• NEWS AND NOTES: Brothers Osborne, Tyler Hubbard, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, Mickey Guyton

    Brothers Osborne‘s John Osborne is featured in Apple Music’s Nashville Guitar Greats series, available now.

    Tyler Hubbard appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday (April 18th) and talked about his new album, Strong, his three children, getting caught parking in a church parking lot and more. He also performed the song, “Take Me Back” from the new project. Check out the interview HERE and the performance HERE.

     

    Jordan Davis will be featured on CMT Hot 20 Countdown this weekend. Watch it Saturday and Sunday mornings beginning at 9am ET/8am CT.

     

    Vince Gill will be featured in the new Chet Atkins‘ documentary, “Chet We Still Can’t Say Goodbye,” which will premiere on CMT on Friday (April 19th) at 10pm ET/9pm CT.

     

    Mickey Guyton will take part in honoring the music of the late Patsy Cline on Monday (April 22nd) at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. WALKIN’ AFTER MIDNIGHT: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO PATSY CLINE will also feature appearances from Wynonna, Ashley McBryde, Crystal Gayle, Beverly D’Angelo, Hailey Whitters, Kristin Chenoweth, Mandy Barnett, Natalie Grant, Rita Wilson, Pam Tillis and Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, among others.

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Luke Bryan, Reba McEntire, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Toby Keith, Mickey Guyton, Jordan Davis

    Luke Bryan, Reba McEntire, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Toby Keith and many others are featured on Hardy’s latest HIXTAPE: Vol. 3: DIFFTAPE in tribute to the late Joe Diffie. Using Joe’s archived recordings for the album, several country artists joined forces to bring Joe’s recordings back to life.

    Luke is  joined by Randy Houser on “Honky Tonk Attitude,” which Joe originally released in 1993.

    Reba, along with Jake Worthington, recorded “Is It Cold In Here?,” while Jon Pardi and Old Dominion collaborated on “Bigger Than The Beatles.” Darius and Hailey Whitters are featured on the song “Home.”

    For his final recording, Toby, along with Luke Combs, joined forces with Joe on “Ships That Don’t Come In.”

     

    Mickey Guyton received a special delivery from Beyoncé on the day her Cowboy Carter album was released. Mickey posted photos of a huge bouquet of flowers and a card that read, “Thank you for opening doors for me, queen. Love and respect, Beyoncé.”

     

    Jordan Davis has some famous fans, including Peyton Manning, NFL great Jason Kelce and new Philadelphia Eagle Jordan Davis. Another famous fan — actor Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar, Designated Survivor, House) was on the Kelly Clarkson Show recently, and said he was really into Jordan’s music. Take a look at the video clip below.

     

  • MICKEY GUYTON PAYS TRIBUTE TO WOMEN EVERYWHERE IN “WOMAN” MUSIC VIDEO.

    Following the release of her powerful new song “Woman” last week, Mickey Guyton continues to celebrate women all over the world with the official music video premiering today with CMT. Directed by Christen Pinkston and Wesley Stebbins-Perry, the video is inspired by and a tribute to women of all shapes and sizes, occupations, and heritages. Guyton shares the spotlight in this video with an array of strong women honoring the power within all.

    Billboard says Guyton is “One of country music’s most powerful voices [who] shines on this pop-bending track, one that honors women’s strength, adaptability, resourcefulness, courage and vulnerability.” Guyton wrote this latest release with Victor Franco, Oliver Frid, Kameron Glasper, and Tayla Parx.

    This morning, Guyton joined the CBS Mornings team to reveal the nominations for the 2024 CMT Music Awards where she learned of her own two nominations – Collaboration of the Year and Video of the Year – for her song “Nothing Compares to You” with Kane Brown. Tune in to CBS or stream live on Paramount+ Sunday, April 7 at 8pm ET/ 7 CT for the 2024 CMT Music Awards live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.

     

  • CMT MUSIC AWARDS 2024:

    The nominations for the 2024 CMT Music Awards have been announced, and Universal Music Group Nashville is represented in nearly every category with nods for Anne Wilson, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Bryan, Mickey Guyton, Priscilla Block, Reba McEntire and The War And Treaty (check out the complete list of nominees below).

    The fan-voted award show, hosted by Kelsea Ballerini, will air live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday, April 7th at 7pm CT on CBS, and will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. Performers, presenters and additional details about the show will be announced soon.

    2024 CMT Music Awards Nominees:

    VIDEO OF THE YEAR
    Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration). Top six nominees from the first round of voting, will be announced on April 1. The final three nominees, from the second round of voting, will be announced on show day (April 7). Final voting will be determined via social media and announced as the final category during the live show.
    Ashley McBryde – “Light On In The Kitchen”
    Brandy Clark feat. Brandi Carlile – “Dear Insecurity”
    Brothers Osborne – “Nobody’s Nobody”
    Cody Johnson – “The Painter”
    Darius Rucker – “Fires Don’t Start Themselves”
    Hardy – “Truck Bed”
    Jason Aldean – “Let Your Boys Be Country”
    Jelly Roll – “Need A Favor”
    Jordan Davis – “Next Thing You Know”
    Kacey Musgraves – “Deeper Well”
    Kelsea Ballerini – “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)”
    Lainey Wilson – “Watermelon Moonshine”
    Mickey Guyton feat. Kane Brown – “Nothing Compares To You”
    Parmalee – “Gonna Love You”
    Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”
    Zach Bryan – “Nine Ball”

    FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
    Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist.
    Ashley McBryde – “Light On In The Kitchen”
    Gabby Barrett – “Glory Days”
    Kacey Musgraves – “Deeper Well”
    Kelsea Ballerini – “Penthouse”
    Lainey Wilson – “Watermelon Moonshine”
    Megan Moroney – “I’m Not Pretty”
    Reba McEntire – “Seven Minutes In Heaven”

    MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
    Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist.
    Bailey Zimmerman – “Religiously”
    Cody Johnson – “The Painter”
    Hardy – “Truck Bed”
    Jelly Roll – “Need A Favor”
    Jordan Davis – “Next Thing You Know”
    Luke Combs – “Fast Car (Official Live Video)”
    Morgan Wallen “Last Night (One Record At A Time Sessions)”

    DUO/GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
    Best video by a duo or group; awarded to the artists.
    Brothers Osborne – “Nobody’s Nobody”
    Dan + Shay – “Save Me The Trouble”
    Old Dominion – “Memory Lane”
    Parmalee – “Girl In Mine”
    The War And Treaty – “Have You A Heart”
    Tigirlily Gold – “Shoot Tequila”

    COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
    Best video from a collaboration; awarded to the artists.
    Carly Pearce feat. Chris Stapleton – “We Don’t Fight Anymore”
    Ella Langley feat. Koe Wetzel – “That’s Why We Fight”
    Jon Pardi, Luke Bryan – “Cowboys and Plowboys”
    Justin Moore & Priscilla Block – “You, Me, And Whiskey”
    Lukas Nelson + Promise of the Real (POTR) feat. Lainey Wilson – “More Than Friends”
    Mickey Guyton feat. Kane Brown – “Nothing Compares To You”
    Old Dominion & Megan Moroney – “Can’t Break Up Now”

    BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR, presented by Walt Disney World
    Best video from a female artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist.
    Anne Wilson – “Rain In The Rearview”
    Ashley Cooke – “Your Place”
    Brittney Spencer – “Bigger Than The Song”
    Tigirlily Gold – “Shoot Tequila”

    BREAKTHROUGH MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR, presented by Walt Disney World
    Best video from a male artist’s major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist.
    Chayce Beckham – “23”
    Tyler Childers – “In Your Love”
    Warren Zeiders – “Pretty Little Poison”
    Zach Bryan – “Oklahoma Smokeshow”

    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).
    Amber Riley – “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” (from CMT Smashing Glass)
    Bret Michaels & Chris Janson – “Nothing But A Good Time” (from CMT Crossroads)
    Carrie Underwood – “Hate My Heart” (from 2023 CMT Music Awards)
    Cody Johnson – “Human” (from 2023 CMT Music Awards)
    Dierks Bentley – “Drunk On A Plane” (from CMT Storytellers)
    Dustin Lynch feat. MacKenzie Porter – “Thinking ‘Bout You” (from CMT Campfire Sessions)
    Hozier & Maren Morris – “Take Me To Church” (from CMT Crossroads)
    Jelly Roll – “Need A Favor” (from 2023 CMT Music Awards)
    Kelsea Ballerini – “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” (from 2023 CMT Music Awards)
    The War And Treaty – “On My Own” (from CMT Smashing Glass)

    CMT DIGITAL-FIRST PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
    Musical performance from a production, series or livestream created for CMT digital / social channels; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo).
    Chase Rice – “Goodnight Nancy” (from CMT Studio Sessions)
    Dylan Scott – “Don’t Close Your Eyes (Keith Whitley Cover)” (from “CMT Digital Campfire Sessions”)
    Megan Moroney – “I’m Not Pretty” (from “CMT Digital Campfire Sessions”)
    Nate Smith – “Whiskey On You” (from CMT Studio Sessions)
    Scotty McCreery – “It Matters To Her” (from CMT Stages)
    Stephen Wilson Jr. – “Year to Be Young 1994” (from CMT Studio Sessions)
    The Castellows – “I Know It Will Never End” (from CMT Studio Sessions)

     

     

     

     

     

     

    https://twitter.com/warandtreaty/status/1767920192661701009

     

     

     

    Audio / Darius Rucker talks about the video for "Fires Don't Start Themselves," in which he plays a detective hot on the trail of a young couple whose passionate love is setting their town ablaze, both literally and figuratively.

    Download

    Darius Rucker (Fires Don’t Start Themselves video) OC: …happy about that. :46
    “I love acting. I love… It’s a lot of fun. And the actors you get to act with are so giving and make it so easy for you and fun and everything. But that video, when they told me I wasn’t going to do any performance, I was so happy, because that’s so the cliché (for) the video. You have other people acting and then you do the performance. But when they told me I was going to play a detective, I put on my inner Stabler, because I’m such a Law and Order and CSI fan, so I put on my inner Stabler and went out and did it. And the girl I worked with, she was so fun; she was so funny. And you know that donut scene, when I see it, there’s no words and it still makes me laugh every time I see it. But yeah, that was a lot of fun and I’d love to do a lot more of that, but, you know, we’ll see if it comes. If it comes, I’ll take it. If not, I’ll keep doing this music thing. I’ll be happy about that.”

    Audio / REBA MCENTIRE TALKS ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR "SEVEN MINUTES IN HEAVEN."

    Download

    Reba McEntire (music video for Seven Minutes In Heaven) OC: …it still hurts. 1:08
    “I picked out the lady to play mama, Eleanor. She did a great job. And she was a sweetheart to get to work with. That is exactly what I thought it would look like if I went to heaven and it was, you know, with the smoke coming in and out, made it look really heavenly. And I thought it would be something familiar, something that you’d feel comfortable with. God thinks of everything. And so, to walk up to the booth, and the next time I walk up and mama’s there and I put my arms on her shoulders, Eleanor’s hands were very similar to mama’s when she was young. So that got me to, they kept saying, ‘Okay, let’s do it again. I said, ‘Okay, let’s take a little break here. Get in here to redo my makeup. Because I would, I just bawled. And Eleanor was sitting across from me at the booth, and she’d see me crying. She’d try to reach for a napkin out of the napkin dispenser on the table. And I’d say, ‘Eleanor, that’s okay. It’s part of the video.’ ‘You don’t want to wipe?’ I said, ‘I’m good. I’m good.’ But she was just like a mother, you know, and they’re trying to make sure everything was all right. It was healing. It was healing for me to do that video and kind of like get it out because it still hurts.”

    Audio / JORDAN DAVIS TALKS ABOUT WRITING HIS TWO-WEEK NO. 1 SMASH, "NEXT THING YOU KNOW."

    Download

    Jordan Davis (writing Next Thing You Know) OC: …song is today. :59
    “There’s a saying that says ‘raising kids – the days are long, the years are short,’ and that’s what this song is to me. I kind of came in wanting to write something like that, you know kind of a slow down time song, and Greylan had this idea. The idea initially was about going to a bar or going somewhere and meeting somebody and then just the progression of a relationship. I kind of hijacked the title and said, ‘Hey man. I love that title, but we’re going to write it in the sense of having kids, watching ‘em grow up and hopefully becoming a grandparent, you know? Chase McGill and Josh Osborne both have kiddos, and I think they kind of grabbed on it. Greylan, hats off to him. He’s the single kid of the group, so he was like, ‘Man, I’ll go there. I don’t know how much input I can be able to say in this, but I’ll go there with you.’ I mean, he’s a great writer, and it was fun to kind of see the title that he threw out evolve into what the song is today.”

    Audio / ON THE SET OF THE FILMING OF HER NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR "RAIN IN THE REARVIEW," ANNE WILSON EXPLAINS THE CONCEPT BEHIND IT.

    Download

    Anne Wilson (BTS RITR video) 2 OC: …in this video. :37
    “So, I love this music video so much. We were working through the idea and concept behind it. It was really about portraying three different versions of myself – the happy version, which is the healed version; the driver, which is kind of plowing through everything and then the one that is sad and kind of looking on the past and reflecting what has come before. And I love the reminder in this music video and getting to work with T.K. McKamy on this treatment of how can we take this song and dive deeper into what it means? And I think in life we all go through different seasons where we’re either fully healed, we’re still looking back and struggling with depression and anxiety from the past or we’re driving in the seat and we’re going ahead for what’s to come. So, I love that we got to portray all three of those in this video.”

    Video /

    View

    Video /

    View

    Video /

    View

    Video /

    View

    Video /

    View

    Video /

    View
  • NEWS AND NOTES: Kacey Musgraves, Mickey Guyton, Keith Urban

    Kacey Musgraves sat down for an in-depth interview with NBC’s Sunday Today With Willie Geist this past weekend (March 10th). She talked about making her new album, Deeper Well, coming to Nashville, the first song she ever wrote (“Notice Me”) and much more.

     

    The official music video for Mickey Guyton‘s latest song, “Woman,” will premiere Wednesday (March 13th) on CMT.

     

     

    Keith Urban gave fellow country star Lainey Wilson a ride to the airport as she kicks off her “Country’s Cool Again Tour” in Australia. In a video posted to both of their socials (see below), Lainey gets some advice from Keith about being Down Under, since he’s obviously from there. When they arrive, Keith unloads her luggage and she says, “I’m so excited to be going to your home,” and Keith says, “Honestly? I wish I could go home with you,” which he then quips could be a good title for a song.

     

     

  • MICKEY GUYTON CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BY RELEASING FEMALE ANTHEM, “WOMAN.”

    Today, on International Women’s Day, Mickey Guyton is celebrating with all her ladies as she releases her new song, “Woman.” The four-time GRAMMY-nominated country queen is honoring women around the world with an ode to women’s empowerment. Written by Guyton with Victor Franco, Oliver Frid, Kameron Glasper and Tayla Parx, “Woman” is Guyton’s first release this year with more music expected in the coming months.

    “I loved the idea of writing a song that celebrates the power women have,” says Guyton. “Throughout history and even today, women have taken pain, setbacks, and doubt, and they turn that into inner strength, and they persevere to achieve incredible things. Releasing this on International Women’s Day seemed only fitting. We’re miracle workers, y’all!”

    Guyton set to perform at the Grand Ole Opry tonight. Fans can tune in on the Opry Facebook and YouTube channels or tune in to the Opry’s radio home WSM at 7pm CT.

    About Mickey Guyton
    Capitol Nashville’s Mickey Guyton “raises the rafters and distills emotion with impeccable clarity. Her high notes thrill, her nuance in storytelling captivates. A star for our times claims her place” (NPR). The four-time GRAMMY nominee and 2022 TIME Breakthrough Artist of the Year Guyton released songs “I Still Pray,” “How You Love Someone” and “Somethin’ Bout You” following her critically acclaimed 2021 debut album Remember Her Name.

    With Remember Her Name, Mickey made history as the first Black artist to earn a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album. Title track “Remember Her Name” also landed Mickey with GRAMMY nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance. This follows Mickey’s groundbreaking GRAMMY nomination as the first-ever Black female solo artist to earn a nod in a country category (Best Country Solo Performance) for “Black Like Me” which she performed as part of the 2021 awards ceremony. “Black Like Me” was named one of the Top 10 all-genre songs of 2020 by NPR, Billboard and Associated Press. She also co-hosted the 56thAcademy of Country Music Awards on CBS along with Keith Urban and she was named CMT’s 2021 Breakout Artist of the Year. Audiences around the world watched Mickey deliver a powerful message of inclusivity and togetherness with her “awe-inspiring,” “soulful and soaring” national anthem at Super Bowl 56 in Los Angeles.

    Mickey and her music have been featured on the cover of Billboard and profiled in The New Yorker, The New York Times and Rolling Stone. Over the last year she has been featured in American Songwriter, BBC News, CBS This Morning, Ebony, Elle, Ellen, Entertainment Weekly, Essence, HITS, Sesame Street, SHERRI, The Jennifer Hudson Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine’s Vulture, PEOPLE, Pollstar, Sesame Street, TODAY Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, USA Today, Variety, VIBE, The View, Vogue, The Washington Post and many more. Mickey is also a scout for Apple TV+ global music competition series “My Kind of Country” in search for country music’s next big star.

     

    Audio / Mickey Guyton talks about her new song, "Woman."

    Download

    Mickey Guyton (Woman) OC: …little moment. :42
    “The idea actually came from Tayla (Parx). At the time there was so much going on online about what defined a woman, and there was so many interpretations and the whole internet was ablaze, and we thought it was so important to release a song called ‘Woman’ on International Women’s Day. It’s funny how we wrote it. Tayla was actually in her Tesla driving from New York to L.A., so we literally wrote this song while she was in, while her Tesla was driving to L.A. and it was just a special moment and the song just felt so powerful. We wrote it about two years ago maybe, and so it’s just so really cool to finally seeing it have a little moment.”

    Video /

    View
  • NEWS AND NOTES: Kacey Musgraves, Mickey Guyton, Maddie & Tae, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan

    Kacey Musgraves made a surprise appearance and joined Zach Bryan for a duet of their massive hit, “I Remember Everything,” during the kick off date of his The Quittin’ Time Tour in Chicago.

    Mickey Guyton is set to announce this year’s CMT Music Awards on CBS Mornings on Wednesday (March 13th). The 2024 CMT Music Awards will air live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on April 7th.

    Maddie & Tae have been added to the lineup for the Voices of America Country Music Fest in West Chester, Ohio this summer. The four-day festival, which takes place August 8th – 11th, will also feature performances from headliners Keith Urban, Sam Hunt, Jason Aldean and Ernest, as well as Brett Young, Michael Ray, Chase Matthew, Larry Fleet and others.

    Keith Urban and Luke Bryan are among the headliners at this year’s Golden Sky Music Festival in Sacramento, California this fall. The three-day festival, taking place October 18th-20th, will also feature performances by headliner Thomas Rhett, as well as Travis Denning, Kylie Morgan, Riley Green, Clint Black, Elle King, Bailey Zimmerman, Ashley McBryde and others. Go to goldenskyfestival.com for more information.

    Shania Twain is part of Mattel’s Global Role Model Barbie campaign, which is spotlighting groundbreaking women with one-of-a-kind commemorative Barbies. Viola Davis, Helen Mirren and Kylie Minogue are also being honored with these role model dolls, which, unfortunately, are not available for purchase.

    Shania Twain is in Abu Dahbi for International Women’s Day as part of Forbes Women International Women’s Day Summit.

     

     

     

  • INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

    While we are currently celebrating Woman’s Month, Friday (March 8th) is International Women’s Day, which is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women’s Day has been observed since the early 1900’s.

    Many of your favorite female country artists are also celebrating this day in honor of women everywhere and of their influences and inspirations.

    Audio / Carrie Underwood talks about her amazing professional influences.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (Musical influences) OC: …do it too. :54
    “I think my biggest influences musically, or career-wise, would have to be women like Reba, like Dolly, like Faith Hill, like Martina McBride. You see all of these women just juggle everything masterfully and many of them are moms and they’re superstars and they’re talented, and you know, I know how hard they work because I’m in their shoes somewhat and doing the same juggling. You know, you have the kids and the career and you’re just trying to crush everything you do and being pulled in a million different directions. And to see women like that who are just beautiful and smart and strong and talented, knowing that they have come first and they’re still getting to do what they love and they’re still getting to be the mom and the wife and all the things – that’s just such an inspiration to me and just lets me know that I can do it too.”

    Audio / Carrie Underwood talks about her biggest female influence – her Mom.

    Download

    Carrie Underwood (biggest female influence) OC: …ever had. :25
    “I would say my biggest female influence would have to be my Mom. She was the first person that I was around that really taught me what it was like to be a woman, to be a Mom, to be a wife, to be a daughter and a sister. And just watching her and how she did everything with grace and integrity and she’s so strong. I mean, she was just the best role model anybody could have ever had.”

    Audio / LINER Carrie Underwood (IWD)

    Download

    “Hey, this is Carrie Underwood, and today is International Women’s Day. Let’s celebrate and encourage the achievements of women and girls around the world today and every day.”

    Audio / LINER Carrie Underwood (NWM)

    Download

    “Hi, this is Carrie Underwood, and March is National Women’s month. Celebrate and encourage the achievements of women and girls everywhere today and every day.”

    Audio / LINER Catie Offerman (International Women's Day)

    Download

    “Hey y’all, this is Catie Offerman. Happy International Women’s Day. This is such a special chance for all of us to celebrate each other and all the women around the globe and all their amazing accomplishments. We love you!”

    Audio / Caylee Hammack talks about her professional inspirations, including Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and more.

    Download

    Caylee Hammack (Loretta Lynn and professional inspirations) OC: …look up to. :31
    “My first concert ever was Loretta Lynn. I was 13 years old and I got to see her in Columbus, Georgia. I begged my Dad to bring me, and I just remembered sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what she’d sing or say next. Loretta Lynn has been such an inspiration to me and all of the women who came before me – Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, all the way to Miranda Lambert and the legends of today. It’s unreal how many amazing women I have been given in this world to look up to.”

    Audio / Caylee Hammack talks about seeing Loretta Lynn in concert when she was 13 years old.

    Download

    Caylee Hammack (Loretta Lynn) OC: …should listen. :28
    “My female idol growing up was Loretta Lynn. I was 13 when I got to see her live in-concert for the very first time. It was my first concert ever, and I will always remember sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to just see what she was gonna sing or say next. The power she had on stage is something you don’t see much; there’s a magic there. I think that when a woman tells her story – a woman like Loretta Lynn – everyone should listen.”

    Audio / Caylee Hammack talks about the women in country music who have become her friends and supportive country music family.

    Download

    Caylee Hammack (Miranda, Ashley, Tenille) OC: …more grateful. :46
    “I could on and on about Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette and Reba and Dolly, but I want to actually mention a few friends that I’ve recently made in this year of quarantine and that’s Miranda Lambert and Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes, these women that I’ve really gotten to connect with over this time in random group messages and such. I‘m just so very grateful that not only do I have women that have paved the way for us coming up in the country music industry, but I also have amazing women around me that I get to celebrate every single time that they put a new song out or win an award. I feel like I’ve found a family in country music, in the women of country music and I just couldn’t be more grateful.”

    Audio / During a backstage press conference at the CMA Awards a few years ago, Kacey Musgraves talked about being inspired by two of her idols, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, and hoped she could carry that inspiration on in her own music.

    Download

    Kacey Musgraves (women in Country Music) OC: …of it all. :37
    “I look at people like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton, songwriters who were sassy and intelligent and beautiful and also intelligent and humorous. They inspired me, and if I can be at all any part of that in carrying that on, then I feel like,  that’s just the icing on the cake for me, and I feel like I’ve done my job.”

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves talks about meeting the legendary Loretta Lynn.

    Download

    Kacey Musgraves (Loretta Lynn) OC: …was amazing. :26
    “I’ll never forget getting to meet her and open for her. It was just something I’ll never forget. I was so excited to meet Loretta. I mean, what can you say to her that no one else has said? You can’t, so I just shook her hand and held her hand and said, ‘You can’t understand how much you inspire me. Thank you.’ It was crazy. She was sitting there in her ballgown looking all like a country barbie doll. It was amazing.”

    Audio / LINER Kylie Morgan (IWD)

    Download

    “Hey y’all, it’s Kylie Morgan. Happy International Women’s Day, which is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Celebrate yourself and others on this special day. Let’s Go Girls!”

    Audio / Kylie Morgan explains what International Women’s Day means to her.

    Download

    Kylie Morgan (International Women’s Day) OC: …so young. :21
    “For me, International Women’s Day is not only about women supporting women but also looking up to other women. And the very first tiny woman, actually, I ever looked up to was Shirley Temple. Not only was she a child star, but she never let her age hold her back. And I feel like I continue to grow up with that mentality and why I started my career so young.”

    Audio / Prior to the Grammy Awards a few years ago, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild talked about their nominated song, “The Daughters,” and its message.

    Download

    LBT (Grammys 2020) OC: …speaking about. 1:28
    “We put it out as a moment to kind of kick off the record Nightfall, and we just love the song so much and we’ve had so many opportunities to share it on television and lots of radio opportunities. For it to just get nominated for Country Song of the Year by a Duo or Group, that’s an incredible category to be in because that’s any collaboration that’s been done on any country record plus by any duo or group. It encompasses so many incredible performances, that it really, it’s an absolute honor for that song to have gone all the way to the Grammys. Just so cool. It speaks to the message too. It speaks to how important that message is. We’re still talking about it all the time – equal play, equal play. We’re talking about it in just the way women are treated, and we need the champions out there for the daughters and that’s the heart of the song. Luckily, we’re in a band with two guys that believe in that, but there’s a lot of people out there that need that reminder that it’s not an equal playing field. It still isn’t. It’s time for us to change it so that the next generation doesn’t know what we’re speaking about.”

    Audio / The late Loretta Lynn talks about two of her songs that had a big impact.

    Download

    Loretta Lynn (which songs had most impact) OC: …double hits. :10
    “‘You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)’ and ‘Fist City’ is another one. They both hit women, you know? I wrote them about other women at the time and myself too, so I think that’s why they were double hits.”

    Audio / Maddie & Tae talk about some of the women they most admire.

    Download

    Maddie & Tae (women most admire) OC: (Maddie) …everybody! :43
    “I definitely can’t pick just one inspiring woman in my life, because I’ve been blessed by many. (TAE INTERRUPTS) Yeah, I was gonna say Tae is definitely one that inspires me always for many different reasons. You are really good at living in the moment, I feel like; very good at being present and I always pick that up from you every time we hang out. (TAE SAYS, “Your joy inspires me.”) My mom, she is just a baddie and amazing. I would say our manager Haley. She is just so great at balancing work life and family life, and I really admire that. And I would say, I don’t know. All the women in my life – my sister, my sister-in-laws, my mother-in-law. I love ‘em all. My grandma…everybody!”

    Audio / Maddie Font of Maddie & Tae talks about her admiration for Carrie Underwood.

    Download

    Maddie & Tae (Carrie Underwood) OC: …her friendship. :23
    “I really, really love and admire Carrie Underwood. I love that she balances family and her work life so well, and she really, really took us under her wing on her Cry Pretty Tour back in 2019 and just really gave us once-in-a-lifetime moments. So, I will always be grateful for her and her friendship.”

    Audio / Mickey Guyton talks about the female country artists she admired growing up.

    Download

    Mickey Guyton (on pursuing a career as a singer) OC: …all those people. :50
    “It wasn’t like something where I was like, ‘Dad, I want to be a professional singer.’ It wasn’t until I was older when I finally admitted it. When you say something like that, it’s pretty crazy. What are we normally supposed to be? We’re supposed to be a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer, go to school and for me to even say that was just kind of crazy. So, I took an interest in singing. I started doing solos in the church choir or the school had a talent show. I’d bring my boom box, and I’d sing ‘I Will Always Love You.’ I was just mesmerized by big-voiced women, so from LeAnn, I started listening to Dolly and Patsy Cline and Patty Loveless and Reba McEntire and Faith Hill and Martina McBride, all those people.”

    Audio / Priscilla Block talks about Dolly Parton.

    Download

    Priscilla Block (Dolly Parton) OC: …me some Dolly. :19

    “Hey-this is Priscilla Block, and I would say one female country legend that I look up to would be Dolly Parton. I love how honest she is, and she’s always just embraced who she is as a woman, and I love that so much, you know. Big hair, big hoops and you know what’s next. I love me some Dolly.”

    Audio / Priscilla Block says she is inspired by her mother.

    Download

    Priscilla Block (Mom) OC: …in the butt. :25
    “I would honestly say one of the most inspiring women in my life is my mom because she raised five kids, and honestly had no clue what she was doing, but kind of always just made life so fun. She was there when we needed to laugh and when we needed to cry, and she was also there when we needed a little kick in the butt.”

    Audio / REBA MCENTIRE TALKS ABOUT THE VERY FIRST TIME SHE MET LORETTA LYNN.

    Download

    Reba McEntire (on loving Loretta Lynn) OC: …I love Loretta Lynn. :22
    “Well, see what they would do, they’d play the rodeo. They would pull a trailer out and then the country music star for the night would come out and perform for the audience and then they would go over to the dance hall and put on a dance. That’s the first time I actually met her. I whipped off my belt for her to sign and man, I wish I still had that belt. I love Loretta Lynn.”

    Audio / A FEW YEARS AGO, TAYLOR SWIFT SAID REBA MCENTIRE WAS ONE OF HER FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

    Download

    Taylor Swift (Reba) OC: …factored in. :33
    “Reba is absolutely one of my favorite people on this planet. And yk, I think when you’re making your way up in the music industry, you have all these heroes and the reasons why they’re your heroes are one thing, and then as soon as you kind of get in the industry, your guidelines change a little bit. For me, my heroes now are great people first and great artists second – people that I just feel strive to be great people and kind people first before anything else gets factored in.”

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Eric Church, Vince Gill, Josh Turner, Mickey Guyton

    Eric Church will release a special physical edition of his 2011 EP, Caldwell County, on vinyl for Record Store Day on April 20th. The 7-inch disc will feature the songs “His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love),” “My Heart’s Got a Memory,” “Faster Than My Angels Can Fly” and “Chevy Van.”
    He posted the news on his Instagram stories.

    Vince Gill will join Blake Shelton and his own All For The Hall at the Bok Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 30th. The show will benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and will also feature performances by Ronnie Dunn, Kristen Chenoweth, Wade Hayes and The Swon Brothers.

    Josh Turner will be on hand to help induct Scotty McCreery into the Grand Ole Opry on April 20th. Scotty got his start during Season 10 of American Idol, and he auditioned by singing Josh Turner’s hit, “Your Man.”

     

    Mickey Guyton is attending New York Fashion Week for the first time. She was invited by famed fashion designer Michael Kors. In her Instagram posts, she’s wearing a beautiful, above-the-knee white dress by Kors.

     

     

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Mickey Guyton, Chris Stapleton, The War And Treaty

    Darius Rucker was performing in Las Vegas after the Madden Bowl — and prior to the Super Bowl — for several NFL executives and members when Miami Dolphins’ Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa jumped on stage with guitar on hand to perform the multi-platinum “Wagon Wheel.”

     

    Keith Urban will perform during this summer’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend, taking place July 6th-7th. The Black Keys and The Chainsmokers will also perform.

     

    Mickey Guyton performed at the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration on Saturday night (February 10th). The concert special, which aired on CBS and Paramount+, brought together musical artists and NFL players to celebrate the Big Game. Robin Thicke, Kirk Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, T-Pain and many others also performed.

    Chris Stapleton and The War And Treaty join an all-star lineup for a special concert event honoring the iconic Mavis Staples. Mavis Staples 85th: All-Star Birthday Concert, which takes place April 18th at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, will also feature performances by Black Pumas, Grace Potter, Hozier, Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy, Keb’ Mo’, Michael McDonald, Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, plus many more to be announced. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday (February 16th) at 10am PT at http://ticketmaster.com.