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Here’s Who’s Performing at the 2020 CMT Awards

The CMT Music Awards list of performers has been revealed!

Save-The-Date: Fan-Voted CMT Awards to Air on October 21, 2020

CMT announced today (September 30), their first leg of performances for the 2020 CMT Music Awards including nominees Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, and Maren Morris. Each one-of-a-kind performance will take place from outdoor spaces in and around Nashville, Tennessee.

The annual show is the only entirely fan-voted award show in the country music world honoring the genre’s best and most fan-favorite artists. Fan voting has already begun. Visit vote.cmt.com to cast your votes.

Up for awards are Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett who lead with three nominations each. Blanco Brown, Carrie Underwood, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, and The Chicks also racked up multiple nominations. While many rising stars received their first-ever nominations for the special accolades. Check out the full list of nominations below.

Set to air on Wednesday, October 21st at 8PM ET / 7PM CT on CMT, the 2020 CMT Music Awards will be a celebration country music fans will not want to miss. The show will honor country music’s biggest stars bringing next-level energy and unique performances from Music City.

Fans can tune in from home on several different networks who will be broadcasting the show including CMT, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Paramount Network, Pop and TV Land.

 

HERE ARE THE 2020 CMT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATIONS:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced on 10/12, with final voting held until 10/16 and announced in-show.

  • Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
  • Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
  • Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
  • Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
  • Keith Urban – “Polaroid”
  • Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
  • Little Big Town – “Sugar Coat”
  • Luke Combs – “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
  • Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
  • Old Dominion – “Some People Do”
  • Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
  • Tanya Tucker – “Bring My Flowers Now”
  • The Chicks -“Gaslighter”
  • Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist

  • Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
  • Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
  • Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
  • Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
  • Maren Morris – “The Bones”
  • Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist

  • Jason Aldean – “Got What I Got”
  • Luke Bryan – “One Margarita”
  • Luke Combs – “Even Though I’m Leaving”
  • Morgan Wallen – “Chasin’ You (Dream Video)”
  • Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
  • Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists

  • Lady A – “Champagne Night”
  • Little Big Town – “Wine, Beer, Whiskey”
  • Midland – “Cheatin’ Songs (Live From the Palomino)”
  • Old Dominion – “One Man Band”
  • The Chicks – “Gaslighter”
  • The Highwomen – “Crowded Table”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists

  • Brothers Osborne – “All Night (Studio Performance)”
  • Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
  • Florida Georgia Line – “Blessings”
  • LOCASH – “One Big Country Song”
  • Maddie & Tae – “Die From A Broken Heart”

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)

  • Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
  • Caylee Hammack – “Family Tree”
  • Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
  • Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
  • Riley Green – “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”
  • Travis Denning – “After a Few”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists

  • Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani – “Nobody But You”
  • Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
  • Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber – “10,000 Hours”
  • Kane Brown featuring Nelly – “Cool Again”
  • Marshmello and Kane Brown – “One Thing Right”
  • Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi – “Beer Can’t Fix”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

  • From CMT Artists of the Year: Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
  • From CMT Crossroads: Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs – “Brand New Man”
  • From CMT Artists of the Year: Chris Young – “Drowning”
  • From CMT Crossroads: Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini – “Graveyard”
  • From CMT Artists of the Year: Sam Hunt – “Fancy”
  • From CMT Crossroads: Sheryl Crow and Chris Stapleton – “Tell Me When It’s Over”

 

Don’t forget to cast your votes! Voting is open now at: vote.cmt.com.

Although it is sure to be different, this will definitely be a night not to miss. Make sure to gear up for the big night and set your DVR’s for 8PM ET on October 21st and follow along on Twitter as we live-tweet the show, @NYCountrySwag.

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

To keep up with CMT, follow along here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

 

—————

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

Here Are The CMT Music Awards 2020 Nominations

The CMT Music Awards Nominations have been revealed!

Save-The-Date: Fan-Voted CMT Awards to Air on October 21, 2020

 

Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett lead with three nominations each. Blanco Brown, Carrie Underwood, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, and The Chicks also racked up multiple nominations. While many rising stars received their first-ever nominations for the special accolades. Check out the full list of nominations below.

Set to air on Wednesday, October 21st at 8PM ET / 7PM CT on CMT, the 2020 CMT Music Awards will be a celebration country music fans will not want to miss. The show will honor country music’s biggest stars bringing next-level energy and one-of-a-kind performances from outdoor spaces in and around Nashville, Tennessee.

The annual show is the only entirely fan-voted award show in the country music world honoring the genre’s best and most fan-favorite artists. Fan voting begins today at vote.cmt.com.

Fans can tune in from home on several different networks who will be broadcasting the show including CMT, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Paramount Network, Pop and TV Land.

 

HERE ARE THE 2020 CMT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATIONS:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced on 10/12, with final voting held until 10/16 and announced in-show.

  • Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
  • Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
  • Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
  • Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
  • Keith Urban – “Polaroid”
  • Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
  • Little Big Town – “Sugar Coat”
  • Luke Combs – “Beer Never Broke My Heart”
  • Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
  • Old Dominion – “Some People Do”
  • Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
  • Tanya Tucker – “Bring My Flowers Now”
  • The Chicks -“Gaslighter”
  • Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist

  • Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
  • Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
  • Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
  • Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
  • Maren Morris – “The Bones”
  • Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist

  • Jason Aldean – “Got What I Got”
  • Luke Bryan – “One Margarita”
  • Luke Combs – “Even Though I’m Leaving”
  • Morgan Wallen – “Chasin’ You (Dream Video)”
  • Sam Hunt – “Hard To Forget”
  • Thomas Rhett – “Remember You Young”

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists

  • Lady A – “Champagne Night”
  • Little Big Town – “Wine, Beer, Whiskey”
  • Midland – “Cheatin’ Songs (Live From the Palomino)”
  • Old Dominion – “One Man Band”
  • The Chicks – “Gaslighter”
  • The Highwomen – “Crowded Table”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists

  • Brothers Osborne – “All Night (Studio Performance)”
  • Dan + Shay – “I Should Probably Go To Bed”
  • Florida Georgia Line – “Blessings”
  • LOCASH – “One Big Country Song”
  • Maddie & Tae – “Die From A Broken Heart”

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)

  • Blanco Brown – “The Git Up”
  • Caylee Hammack – “Family Tree”
  • Gabby Barrett – “I Hope”
  • Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
  • Riley Green – “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”
  • Travis Denning – “After a Few”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists

  • Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani – “Nobody But You”
  • Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
  • Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber – “10,000 Hours”
  • Kane Brown featuring Nelly – “Cool Again”
  • Marshmello and Kane Brown – “One Thing Right”
  • Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi – “Beer Can’t Fix”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

  • From CMT Artists of the Year: Ashley McBryde – “One Night Standards”
  • From CMT Crossroads: Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs – “Brand New Man”
  • From CMT Artists of the Year: Chris Young – “Drowning”
  • From CMT Crossroads: Halsey and Kelsea Ballerini – “Graveyard”
  • From CMT Artists of the Year: Sam Hunt – “Fancy”
  • From CMT Crossroads: Sheryl Crow and Chris Stapleton – “Tell Me When It’s Over”

 

Don’t forget to cast your votes! Voting is open now at: vote.cmt.com.

Although it is sure to be different, this will definitely be a night not to miss. Make sure to gear up for the big night and set your DVR’s for 8PM ET on October 21st and follow along on Twitter as we live-tweet the show, @NYCountrySwag.

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

To keep up with CMT, follow along here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

 

—————

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

Save-The-Date: Fan-Voted CMT Awards to Air on October 21, 2020

Save-The-Date: Fan-Voted CMT Awards to Air on October 21, 2020

 

Just announced, the 2020 CMT Awards are set to air on Wednesday, October 21st at 8PM ET / 7PM CT.

The annual show is the only entirely fan-voted award show in the country music world honoring the genre’s best and most fan-favorite artists. The show will celebrate country music’s biggest stars bringing next-level energy and one-of-a-kind performances from outdoor spaces in and around Nashville, Tennessee.

For a full list of nominations and to cast your votes, click here.

Fans can tune in from home on several different networks who will be broadcasting the show including CMT, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Paramount Network, Pop and TV Land.

Check back soon for more details on nominations, how to vote, who will perform, and more.

Although it is sure to be different, this will surely be a night not to miss. Make sure to gear up for the big night and set your DVR’s for 8PM ET on October 21st and follow along on Twitter as we live-tweet the show, @NYCountrySwag.

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

To keep up with CMT, follow along here on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

 

—————

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

And The Nominees Are…2020 CMA Award Nominees Announced

Luke Combs & Carly Pearce Announce First Round of 2020 CMA Awards Nominations Live from Grand Ole Opry on Good Morning America

Luke Combs & Carly Pearce Announce First Round of 2020 CMA Awards Nominations Live from Grand Ole Opry on Good Morning America

 

Last year, Stephanie and Christina of NYCountry Swag flew down to Nashville to attend the 53rd Annual CMA Awards, witnessing an iconic night for women in country music including hosts Carrie Underwood with special guests Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. Of course, this year is looking a little different, but the show must go on and we are certainly excited that the nominees for this years’ award show were announced today. Revealed live from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, superstars Luke Combs and Carly Pearce joined forces to announce the nominees on Good Morning America (GMA).

Leading the pack with seven nominations, Miranda Lambert earned nods in multiple categories, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year. This brings Lambert’s total number of career nominations to 55, making CMA Awards history by surpassing Reba McEntire’s 51 total nominations.

Of course, megastar Luke Combs also walked out with six nominations, including his first entry into the Entertainer of the Year category after winning New Artist of the Year just two years ago. His rise to fame has been nothing short of extraordinary, as his singles continue to be chart-toppers, time after time again.

We especially enjoy the list of exciting artists that are nominated for the New Artist of the Year category including some of our favorites, Jimmie Allen and Morgan Wallen. Female songstresses, Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, and Carly Pearce also received a nod.

Following Good Morning America, Gabby Barrett and Ingrid Andress joined Ashley Eicher for a livestream on CMA’s Facebook and YouTube to announce the remaining nominees. The award show will air on November 11th 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
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban


Single Of The Year

“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Producer: Dan Smyers
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano

“Beer Never Broke My Heart” – Luke Combs
Producer: Scott Moffatt
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley

“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce

“The Bones” – Maren Morris
Producer: Greg Kurstin
Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin

“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett
Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
Mix Engineer: Buckley Miller


Album Of The Year

Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi

Never Will – Ashley McBryde
Producers: Jay Joyce, John Peets

Old Dominion – Old Dominion
Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion

What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
Producer: Scott Moffatt

Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Jay Joyce


Song Of The Year

“Bluebird” – Written by Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert, recorded by Miranda Lambert

“The Bones” – Written by Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz, recorded by Maren Morris

“Even Though I’m Leaving” – Written by Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher, recorded by Luke Combs

“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Written by Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton, recorded by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice

“More Hearts Than Mine” – Written by Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland, recorded by Ingrid Andress


Female Vocalist Of The Year

Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood


Male Vocalist Of The Year

Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban


Vocal Group Of The Year

Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts


Vocal Duo Of The Year

Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae


Musical Event Of The Year

“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Producer: Dan Smyers

“Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
Producer: Dann Huff

“The Bones” – Maren Morris with Hozier
Producer: Greg Kurstin

“Fooled Around And Fell In Love” – Miranda Lambert (feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley
McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack)
Producer: Jay Joyce

“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
Producer: busbee


Musician Of The Year

Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Rob McNelley, Guitar
Ilya Toshinskiy, Guitar
Derek Wells, Guitar


Music Video Of The Year

“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Director: Patrick Tracy

“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy

“Homemade” – Jake Owen
Director: Justin Clough

“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
Director: Sam Siske

“Second One To Know” – Chris Stapleton
Director: David Coleman


New Artist Of The Year

Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen



Finalists For Broadcast Personality Of The Year (by market size):

National
“American Country Countdown” (Kix Brooks) – Westwood One
“The Blair Garner Show” (Blair Garner and “Off Eric” Garner) – Westwood One
“CMT After Midnite” (Cody Alan) – Premiere Networks
“Country Countdown USA” (Lon Helton) – Westwood One
“The Mayor of Music Row” (Charlie Monk) – Sirius XM Satellite Radio


Major Market

“Angie Ward” – WUBL, Atlanta, Ga.
“Chris Carr & Company” (Chris Carr, Kia Becht, and McKaila Granning) – KEEY, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
“Double-L” (Lois Lewis) – KNIX, Phoenix, Ariz.
“Fitz in the Morning” (Cory Fitzner) – KNUC, Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.
“Paul Schadt & Sarah Lee in the Morning with Producer Geof” (Paul Schadt, Sarah Lee and Geof Knight) – WKKT, Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C.


Large Market

“The Big Dave Show (“Big Dave” Chandler, Chelsie Shinkle, Jason Statt and Ashley Hempfling) – WUBE, Cincinnati, Ohio
“Jim, Deb & Kevin” (Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt and Kevin Freeman) – WFMS, Indianapolis, Ind.
“Lexi & Banks” (“Lexi” Elena Abatgis and “Banks” Jared Danielson) – KUBL, Salt Lake City-Ogden- Provo, Utah
“Obie & Ashley” (“Obie” Obed Diaz and Ashley Morrison) – WWKA, Orlando, Fla.
“Ridder, Scott and Shannen” (“Ridder” Shaun Ridderbush, Scott Dolphin, and Shannen Oesterreich) – WMIL, Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.


Medium Market

“Brent Michaels” – KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
“Clay & Company” (Clay Moden, Rob Banks, and Val Townsend) – WYRK, Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
“Kenn McCloud” – KUZZ, Bakersfield, Calif.
“Scott and Sarah in the Morning” (Scott Wynn and Sarah Kay) – WQMX, Akron, Ohio
“Steve & Gina In The Morning” (Steve Lundy and Gina Melton) – KXKT, Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa


Small Market

“Big Rick In The Morning” (“Big Rick” Daniels) – WGGC, Bowling Green, Ky.
“Bobby & Steve (and Mandi!)” (Bobby Cook, Steve Schwetman and Mandi Turner) – WKYQ, Paducah, Ky.
“Brent and Candy – The Cat Pak Morning Show” (Brent Lane and Candy Cullerton) – WYCT, Pensacola, Fla.
“Officer Don & DeAnn” (“Officer Don” Evans and DeAnn Stephens) – WBUL, Lexington-Fayette, Ky.
“Steve And Jessica Mornings” (Steve Waters and Jessica Cash) – WFLS, Fredericksburg, Va.


Finalists For Radio Station Of The Year (by market size):


Major Market

KNUC – Seattle-Tacoma, Wash.
KSCS – Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
KYGO – Denver-Boulder, Colo.
WXTU – Philadelphia, Pa.
WYCD – Detroit, Mich.


Large Market

KNCI – Sacramento, Calif.
KUBL – Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo, Utah
WMIL – Milwaukee-Racine, Wis.
WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio
WWKA – Orlando, Fla.


Medium Market

KATM – Modesto, Calif.
WHKO – Dayton, Ohio
WQMX – Akron, Ohio
WUSY – Chattanooga, Tenn.
WXCY – Wilmington, Del.


Small Market

KKNU – Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
WBYT – South Bend, Ind.
WKXC – Augusta, Ga.
WXBQ – Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.
WXFL – Florence-Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Tune in to the show to see who will take home the awards on November 11th on ABC. + Follow us on Twitter while we live-tweet the show, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG.

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:

Garth Brooks Withdraws From CMA Entertainer of the Year Contention

Garth Brooks

During an early morning virtual press conference, Garth Brooks spoke with media and to fans across the country watching on Facebook to let them in on a big announcement. Although he has been the recipient of the CMA Entertainer of the Year award seven times, Brooks took the time to explain that he will permanently be removing himself from the ballot. 

His most recent win at the 2019 CMA Awards which took place in Nashville caused a ton of controversy, while the night was supposed to be honoring women and the votes did not go to the sole female nominated, Carrie Underwood who was also the host of the famed award show that evening. 

‘There’s one tweet in there that really stuck in my head,” Brooks said “It said, ‘Hey, man. This guy, why doesn’t he just step down (and leave) the entertainer for the next generation?’ 100% agree.” He continued, “With all the love in the world, we are officially pulling ourselves out of ‘Entertainer of the Year.'” 

This doesn’t mean that the superstar won’t still be nominated in other categories during the CMA and ACM Awards. “I’m extremely competitive,” he admits, saying that those wins “mean the world to me … It’s just, with Entertainer, we’ve been lucky enough to carry that home a number of times, and feel like it’s somebody else’s turn.”

His next album titled Fun was slated for release this year however the artist shares that even though the album is ready to go, he wants to release it once the world is in a better place. “I don’t want to be the guy that tries to do something in the midst where everybody is hurting,” Brooks says. “The album’s ready to go. It’s just, how do you get out and promote and be happy and jolly while everybody’s out there fighting for their lives not only physically, but fighting for their lives financially?”

To keep up with Garth Brooks, visit his website or follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

—————

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!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

The 53rd CMA Awards Deliver Epic Performances & Collaborations

The 53rd Annual CMA Awards was a night to remember, with incredible and unprecedented collaborations from all of our favorite stars. With female empowerment as a theme woven throughout the show, Nashville’s biggest night brought together female artists for collaborations that we never knew we needed! Check out a full recap of our week in Nashville here and read on for a detailed review of the awards show.

The multi-generational trio of hosts – Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and Carrie Underwood – opened up the night with the playful song “Those Memories of You”, a single of Parton’s from 1987. This kicked off a 9-minute medley joined by stars ranging from Little Big Town, The Highwomen, Tanya Tucker, who wowed the audience with a rendition of her hit song, “Delta Dawn”, and many more incredible women. This opening act started the night off on a great note as we prepared for the awards and performances to come.

Soon after, the CMA Awards welcomed a powerhouse from the pop genre, P!nk, to join one of country’s biggest megastars, Chris Stapleton. The two performed a soulful version of Pink’s song “Love Me Anyway”, giving the audience chills as they belted the chorus in perfect harmony.

This wasn’t the only time during the night that we saw cross-genre magic. Later in the evening, Halsey joined the legendary country group Lady Antebellum on the stage to perform a medley their songs. Beginning with Lady Antebellum’s emotive ballad “What If I Never Get Over You” and closing with Halsey’s fiery “Graveyard”, this unexpected duo left the audience amazed.

As mentioned, the night showcased the theme of female empowerment. Mid-show, Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Kelsea Ballerini kicked off the most memorable medley of the night. Starting with only an acoustic guitar, Ballerini performed her recent single “homecoming queen?”, a song about accepting who you are and embracing insecurities. The ballad segued into a stunning sequence of female all-stars singing Little Big Town’s hit “Girl Crush”. Female favorites ranging from Runaway June, Lindsey Ell to Best New Artist winner Ashley McBryde rotated into the gorgeous arrangement. The most magical moment happened at the close of the song, when the most powerful females in country, including Little Big Town, joined the stage together, each singing the tune in their unique way.

Perhaps country music’s it-girl Maren Morris performed one of the most notable female solo performances. While rocking her baby bump in an all-white ensemble, the Album of the Year winner flawlessly belted her self-empowerment anthem “GIRL”.

By the end of the show, Dolly Parton proved that at 73, she’s still got it! She teamed up with For King & Country and Zach Williams for a show-stopping performance medley of the songs “God Only Knows” and “There Was Jesus”. In a glittery white gown, the show’s legendary host brought the crowd to their feet with her powerhouse vocals and striking stage presence.

We can’t neglect to mention other highlight performances of the night. Winner of Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year – and the up and coming king of country – Luke Combs lit up the arena with energy during his performance of “Beer Never Broke My Heart”. Old Dominion has had an incredible year, between their headlining tour and release of their self-titled album. Before their win for Vocal Group of the Year, the band took the stage to perform an intimate version of their single “One Man Band”. The audience felt the emotion in the vocals and smooth guitar riffs, as the band played the moving song about a desire for human connection.

Back to the must-see duets, we loved the unique opportunity to see Female Artist of the Year Kacey Musgraves take the stage with legend Willie Nelson to perform an unforgettable duet of the classic Muppets Movie tune “Rainbow Connection”. This wasn’t the first time these two have collaborated, as fans remember Nelson’s appearance on Musgrave’s Pageant Material album. This touching performance between the two artists helped to close the memorable night.

The performances during the 53rd Annual CMA Awards were truly a sight to see and listen to.

What To Expect On Next Week’s 53rd Annual CMA Awards

CMA Awards

It’s almost time, the 53rd Annual Country Music Association Awards are only one week away. The live broadcast from the Bridgestone Arena in Downtown Nashville is always a fall highlight, but we put together a list to get you even more excited for country music’s biggest night!

1. Who run the world…girls! The theme of this years’ show is Women In Country Music and from the hostess(es) with the mostest(es) (Carrie Underwood and her legendary special guests Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire have won 124 CMA awards between them) to the night’s nominees (Maren Morris tops the list with 6 nominations), we expect the women to truly shine.

2. Teamwork makes the dream work. Awards shows are a great place for collaborations and this year is no different. Steller pairs will take the stage all night long including Garth Brooks with Blake Shelton, Kacey Musgraves with Willie Nelson, Brooks & Dunn with Brothers Osborne, and Dolly Parton with for King & Country.

3. It’s not just a country party. While the night is about the genre’s best and brightest, the CMA Awards always include superstars from other types of music. Performances by Lady Antebellum with pop star Halsey, and Chris Stapleton with pop star Pink have already been announced, but we’re hoping for a few more surprises (maybe Justin Bieber with Dan + Shay to play their new smash, “10,000 Hours”?!)

4. Family-focused red carpet. Everyone in country music feels like family, but 2019 was the year of weddings and babies! Newlyweds walking the carpet will include Carly Pearce and Michael Ray, Devin Dawson and wife Leah Sykes, and Chris Lane with wife and Bachelor alum Lauren Bushnell. We may also catch glimpses of new dads Brett Young, Kane Brown, and Tyler Hubbard, as well as glowing expectant mothers Lauren Atkins, Cam, and Maren Morris.

5. Sparkles, sparkles, and more sparkles. The women and men of country love to bring out the bling, and the CMAs will likely follow suit. Underwood joked in a recent interview that between herself, Parton and McEntire there may be more costume changes and sequins than there will be awards presented.

6. All eyes will be on the night’s biggest award. With a year of unprecedented success in touring for all five nominees, the Entertainer of the Year award is anyone’s game. Will the reigning winner Keith Urban or his predecessor Garth Brooks add another trophy to their CMA shelf? Or will Eric Church, Chris Stapleton or Carrie Underwood get their first win? Underwood is the only woman in the category, and if crowned, would be the first female winner since Taylor Swift in 2011.

7. New season, new music. Many artists will be debuting singles or albums during the broadcast. Tune in to catch first award show performances of Kelsea Ballerini’s “homecoming queen?”, Carrie Underwood’s “Drinking Alone”, and Thomas Rhett’s “Remember You Young” just to name a few.

The CMA Awards air Wednesday, November 13th at 8 pm Eastern/7 pm Central on ABC. NYCountry Swag’s Christina and Stephanie will be in Nashville for awards week, be sure to follow their adventures on Instagram for awards coverage!

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CMA Awards Set to Honor Women In Country Music

 

Just last month the Country Music Association announced that women will be the focus of it’s upcoming 53rd Annual CMA Awards broadcast. Carrie Underwood is returning as host for the November event for the 12th year in a row, and this time she will be joined by female legends Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.

While prime time country award shows have previously had multiple male hosts (Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, for example, hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards for two years) and females have done similar gigs solo, this marks the first time a group of women will be teaming up for such an event. 

Combined, the three have won a staggering 124 CMA accolades, a number which is sure to increase as these powerhouses continue on in their careers. We’re stoked to watch this special night unfold, and Underwood, Parton, and McEntire are just as pumped as the rest of us, sharing their excitement via social media.

“Let’s go girls! I’m so excited to be joining Carrie Underwood and Reba to celebrate the legendary women of country music” Parton wrote. McEntire echoed the sentiments in a similar post, re-sharing a video clip the CMA released to announce the big news. Underwood, who until now has only hosted the show with Brad Paisley, expressed the pinch-me moment she was having getting to team up with two of her idols, posting “I couldn’t be more excited to get to stand up there with 2 of my personal heroes. Reba and Dolly are trailblazers, icons and legends. We’re gonna make Country Music proud!” accompanied by the hashtag “#DreamComeTrue”.

While we can certainly expect some witty and fun moments to come from the emcees, live performances from other women are bound to be highlights of the night as well. Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris and more have had an incredible year, and will most likely grace the stage at some point during the broadcast.

The full list of nominees was announced last week. And it’s safe to say that no matter what happens, we’re in for a special night.

The CMA Awards air live from Nashville, TN on ABC on November 13, 2019.

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NYCountry Swag Recaps the 52nd Annual CMA Awards

 

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Country music’s biggest night has rolled around yet again, bringing country music fans an incredible night filled with live music, laughs and career altering award wins. The 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards aired live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee last night on ABC.

Six-time CMA Entertainer of the Year award-winning icon, Garth Brooks opened the show with a special tribute to the twelve victims of the horrific Thousand Oaks mass shooting that took place last week in California. Brooks began the evening by lovingly dedicating the award ceremony to each of the victims followed by leading a moment of silence while each of their names appeared on the screen.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Kicking off the many musical performances of the night, superstar Luke Bryan filled the room with positive energy as he was joined by New Artist of the Year winner Luke Combs, Cole Swindell, Jon Pardi, Lindsay Ell, Ashley McBryde and Chris Janson for an infectious performance of his latest single and every country music lover’s anthem, “What Makes You Country.”

Welcoming the audience, eleventh-time hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley took the stage to deliver a hilarious musical monologue loosely based off of the film A Star Is Born, calling out a few fellow country stars. Paisley even jokingly surprised Underwood with yodeling sensation Mason Ramsey, portraying her firstborn son. Speaking of sons, the queen of country music amusingly revealed the gender of the baby she is carrying. When Underwood was pregnant with her first son, Paisley accidentally revealed his gender live on the air during the 2014 CMAs. This time, Paisley pressed Underwood until she finally admitted she will be having another baby boy.  Later in the evening, the co-hosts took a moment to share their support and thanks to the firefighters battling the Woolsey wildfires in California.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Larry McCormack/Tennessean.com

There was a total of twenty-one outstanding performances throughout the night, but we’ve narrowed those down to some of our favorites. Music Video of the Year winner, Thomas Rhett, gave an extremely entertaining performance of his number one single “Life Changes,” which started out in a reimagined version of his college dorm room and progressed into the singer-songwriter performing all throughout the crowd with a full marching band. Rhett’s gorgeous wife, Lauren, planted a kiss on Rhett as he passed her on his way to the main stage.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Dan + Shay absolutely stunned with their vocals during their performance of “Tequila.” Fake snow was falling, to go along with the theme of the single’s official music video, as the duo gave fans goosebumps with their exceptional vocal range. Paying tribute to the late, great Dottie West, Lauren Alaina honored the recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee by performing a rendition of the classic hit, “A Lesson In Leavin.’” Alaina’s vocals undoubtedly did the hit justice.  Fellow recent Country Music Hall of Fame member, Ricky Skaggs, gave a once in a lifetime performance of a mashup of a few of his hits, featuring an all-star guest list to celebrate his induction. Skaggs was joined by his band Kentucky Thunder to perform “Black Eyed Suzie,” along with John Osborne of Vocal Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne and Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban to perform “Highway 40 Blues” and closed out the performance with “Country Boy,” joined by Marty Stuart and co-host Paisley. Entertainer of the Year, Urban gave an epic performance of his current single “Never Comin Down” on top of the jumbo screens, featuring alluring visuals. The multi-platinum seller received a standing ovation, unquestionably proving why he was deserving of the biggest award of the night.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Brooks returned to the stage to debut a brand new song entitled “Stronger Than Me,” that he wrote for his wife, two-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winner, Trisha Yearwood. The singer-songwriter performed solo with nothing but an acoustic guitar and his chilling vocals. The emotional lyrics brought Yearwood to tears as she watched her husband, front and center.
Maren Morris, Morgane Stapleton, Marty Stuart, Mavis Staples, and Chris Stapleton teamed up for an unbelievable mashup performance of Stapleton’s “Friendship” and Staples’ “I’ll Take You There.” The collaboration had everyone up on their feet, singing along.  Album of the Year winner, Kacey Musgraves showcased her angelic, silky smooth vocals while strumming along to her own acoustic guitar for a stunning performance of “Slow Burn” off of Golden Hour.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

The most powerful performance of the night was delivered by co-host Underwood. She absolutely dazzled in a beautiful royal blue gown, blowing everyone away with her striking vocal range on her anthem, “Love Wins.” The Female Vocalist of the Year was joined by a full choir which helped to close the performance of the powerful song in the shape of a heart, surrounding Underwood. You could feel the palpable energy through your television screen.

Stapleton lead last night’s wins with Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. The singer-songwriter gave an emotional speech thanking his wife and children for allowing him to invest so much time into his career.

Musgraves was the only female artist in the Album of the Year category and deservingly won for her fourth studio album, Golden Hour, explaining during her acceptance speech that earlier in the day she had realized it had been 10 years to the day that she made her move to Nashville.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photo courtesy of John Shearer/Getty Images

Luke Combs received the award for New Artist of the Year. He will kick off his first ever arena headlining tour this Winter.

Brothers Osborne took home Vocal Duo of the Year for the third consecutive year in a row, giving a hilarious yet thankful speech. Underwood reigns as the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year for the fifth time. She “cried pretty” as she delivered a tearful speech, thanking God, country music and all of the many “families” in her life.

Closing out the memorable evening, Urban was not expecting his win for Entertainer of the Year. His fellow competitor Bryan, shot up right out of his seat in excitement as his friend’s name was announced. Urban tearfully accepted the award, thanking his wife, actress Nicole Kidman and their children, as well as his “phenomenal” fans. He also gave mention to his late father, “wishing he was alive to see this.” Watch his moving acceptance speech below.

The 2018 CMA Awards was another one for the books. Below is a full list of winners from the epic night.

Entertainer of the Year: Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year: Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year: Chris Stapleton
New Artist of the Year: Luke Combs
Vocal Group of the Year: Old Dominion
Vocal Duo of the Year: Brothers Osborne
Album of the Year: Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Song of the Year: “Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
Single of the Year: “Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
Music Video of the Year: “Marry Me” – Thomas Rhett
Musical Event of the Year: “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” – David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney
Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally – Guitar

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Country Music’s Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts

Country Music’s Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts

Country Music’s Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts

Last night (Nov. 11), ABC’s Good Morning America co-host, Robin Roberts celebrated 10 years of her countdown to CMA’s television special by taking a a look back at her past interviews with country music’s biggest stars. As we gear up for the 52nd annual CMA Awards in Nashville this Wednesday, Roberts gives viewers an inside look into country music’s icons, performances, and a behind the scenes peek into their personal lives.

The special featured many prominent performers in the country music spotlight including Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, and many more. Check out the full special here.

Entertainer, Keith Urban was the first artist introduced in the episode. Some of the highlights included taking a look into how he gears up for tour, specifically his ‘Graffiti U’ tour that made its way to New York City’s Barclays Center back in October. Urban’s love and appreciation for how music has made him not only a better singer-songwriter, but a better husband, father, friend, role-model, and person was truly inspiring. He shared with Roberts, “Music is an incredible language of the heavens. I fully believe in it- that it’s here for that kind of healing and connectiveness.” Through the interviews, it was easy to see why Urban is up for three CMA Awards this year, including Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and the prestigious, Entertainer of the Year.

Country Music’s Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts

Carrie Underwood & Robin Roberts, Country Music’s Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts

Another highlight featured the “reigning Queen of Country,” Carrie Underwood. Roberts got to see an inside look into the Cry Prettystar’s journey from American Idol winner to a megastar, including an exclusive look into the songstress’ small home-town, pre-baby and marriage days, as well as, her recent star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Underwood couldn’t be more humble and appreciative of her journey and place in country music, sharing how, as CMT’s Artist of the Year, she feels it is her duty to stand up for equality for fellow female musicians in the industry. “I’m definitely a very blessed person, and try to make the most of those blessings and opportunities as they come, and God has just been really good to me.”

Along with hosting the big show, Underwood also has two CMA Award nominations herself including Music Video of the Year for “Cry Pretty,” as well as, Female Vocalist of the Year. The special made sure to include other musicians who got their start on American Idol, including the talented Scotty McCreery and New Artist of the Year nominee Lauren Alaina. For a full list of nominees, click here.

Country Music’s Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts

Luke Bryan & Robin Roberts, Country Music’s Biggest Stars: In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts

The super-talented and positive entertainer, and entrepreneur, Luke Bryan may have stole the show. Roberts and Bryan looked back at the CMA special from last year, where the singer-songwriter allowed cameras into his home, his tour, and with his family, sharing insight into how he dealt with personal loss and his inspiration for continuing to inspire fans and people through music. “That’s been one thing about my family and our loss, just when we started picking up the pieces with my brother, then we lose my sister and I just watch my mother and our whole family just go back to square one. I know a lot of people out there that have dealt with loss. You have to honor their memory by living, and you have to, you have to be a positive light for people.” Bryan is up for Entertainer of the Year this year.

The last few minutes of the episode, set to the iconic “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, features nostalgic clips over the last 10 years in country music, reminding viewers of the greater meaning of how healing music can really be. Stay tuned for more from the wonderful musicians on the the 52nd annual CMAs, this Wednesday, November 14th on ABC at 8pm and don’t forget to join in on the fun by sharing your CMA Award Winner predictions with our Instagram Story image, found here.

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Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
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