• CHRIS STAPLETON & DUA LIPA RELEASE “THINK I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU (LIVE FROM THE 59TH ACM AWARDS).”

    Two of music’s most beloved and acclaimed artists, Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa, have collaborated to release “Think I’m In Love With You (with Dua Lipa) (Live from the 59th ACM Awards).”

     

    Recorded live at this year’s ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas, the surprise duet features Stapleton and Dua Lipa alongside Stapleton’s band, The Honchos, as well as a 13-piece string section.

    Chris says that it was actually Dua’s idea to team up together on the awards show. “She reached out to the ACMs and suggested that we do something, and then we got on the phone with her and she was just a wonderful person to talk to and collaborate with and we knew that was going to work pretty much immediately from one phone call,” says Chris. “It was very exciting and a very fun way to get to collaborate with somebody, and she’s a wonderful collaborator and a wonderful creative spirit and talent and feel very lucky.”

    “stunning…That the performance was so damn good only made the subterfuge all the more worth it.” —Rolling Stone

    “the best performance of the night”—Vulture

    “The sultry performance paired his grizzled vocal with her soaring, polished tones, making for what was surely one of the most talked about performances.”—Billboard

    “electric and soulful”—American Songwriter

    About Chris Stapleton:

    Kentucky-born Chris Stapleton is a 10x Grammy, 16x CMA and 19x ACM Award-winner and one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians. In the midst of yet another triumphant year, Stapleton recently won four awards at 59th ACM Awards as well as two more trophies at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

    These accomplishments celebrate Stapleton’s new album, Higher, which was released this past fall to overwhelming critical acclaim. Produced by Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton and Chris Stapleton and recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, the record landed on several “Best of” lists including Billboard, EsquireLos Angeles TimesVulture and Rolling Stone, who praises, “dazzling…the best evidence yet for the way one man’s voice has become synonymous with the very idea of a musical genre.” Additionally, The New Yorker declares, “Stapleton is the rare country star with both traditional bona fides and broad commercial appeal. He has an outlaw soul and a pop star’s capacity for inescapable hooks,” while GQ proclaims, “In an age rife with division, he’s maybe the only thing Americans all agree on.”

    Known for his electric live performances, Stapleton recently returned to NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” as musical guest for the third time and will continue his extensive “All-American Road Show” through this fall. In addition to teaming up with Dua Lipa, Stapleton has new collaborations with Slash (“Oh Well”) and George Strait (“Honky Tonk Hall of Fame”) in addition to recording a version of “I Should Have Known It” for new Tom Petty tribute album.

    Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, are founders of the Outlaw State of Kind charitable fund, which supports a variety of causes that are close to their heart. Stapleton also recently unveiled his new Traveller Whiskey, created in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley.

    About Dua Lipa:

    3x GRAMMY and 7x BRIT Award-winning global pop powerhouse Dua Lipa continues to be one of pop music’s leading forces with the release of her third album, Radical Optimism. Upon release, the album went straight to No. 1 in 12 countries, including the UK where it became the biggest album debut of 2024 in the UK and garnered the largest UK female No. 1 volume since 2021. In the US, the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking Dua’s biggest sales week yet. The New York Times named it a Critic’s Pick and hailed it as “an album of nonstop ear candy,” along with Variety, who declared it “a joyous blast of pop savvy,” The New Yorker, who praised, “the instrumentation is a gleaming and impenetrable expanse, and the main attraction is Lipa,” and Vogue, who raved it’s “a summery, self-assured slice of pop brilliance…[and] catchy as hell.”

    Dua’s certified platinum sophomore album Future Nostalgia solidified her position as both a critical success and top radio performer. The GRAMMY Award-winning album was the longest running top 10 album by a female artist on the Billboard 200 in 2021 and spawned multiple worldwide hit singles, with “Levitating” earning certified diamond status and the title of Billboard’s No. 1 Hot 100 Song of 2021.

    Dua has found superstar status on stage and off, thanks to her many passions outside of music. 2022 saw Dua launch Service95, a global style, culture and society editorial platform that now comprises a weekly newsletter, the Service95 book club and the Dua Lipa: At Your Service podcast, which has been lauded by The Sunday Times and The Guardian, and was named one of the Best Podcasts of 2022 by Spotify. Having graced every major fashion magazine worldwide from Vogue and Elle to W and Dazed, Dua added “designer” to her resume in 2023 when she co-designed Versace’s “La Vacanza” collection alongside Donatella Versace herself, which Vogue deemed “the hottest collaboration of the summer.”

    Dua’s eponymous 2017 debut album is certified platinum, spawned six platinum tracks, and made her the first female artist in BRIT Awards history to pick up five nominations in a single year. Dua has a total of 10 GRAMMY nominations, with three wins for Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist and Best Dance Recording. Additionally, she earned nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards for her hit song “Dance The Night” from the box office sensation Barbie. Across platforms globally, she has amassed over 42 billion streams and holds the record for being the first female artist to have two albums with over 10 billion streams each on Spotify.

    Audio / Backstage at this year's ACM Awards, Chris Stapleton talks about how the collaboration with Dua Lipa came about.

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    Chris Stapleton (Dua Lipa ACM collab) OC: …very lucky. :29
    “As far as I know, it was Dua’s idea (laughs) (MORGANE: “It was. She reached out.”)…and she reached out to the ACMs and suggested that we do something, and then we got on the phone with her and she was just a wonderful person to talk to and collaborate with and we knew that was going to work pretty much immediately from one phone call. It was very exciting and a very fun way to get to collaborate with somebody, and she’s a wonderful collaborator and a wonderful creative spirit and talent and feel very lucky.”

     

  • CHRIS STAPLETON WINS ACM ALBUM OF THE YEAR FOR HIGHER.

    Chris Stapleton, along with producers wife Morgane Stapleton and Dave Cobb, picked up the award for Album of the Year for Higher!

    Chris was the most awarded artist of the evening with four wins, including his eighth win for ACM Album of the Year, four as an artist and four as a producer, making him the artist with the most wins in the category (passing George Strait with seven wins). His win for ACM Male Artist of the Year brings his total in the category to four. Stapleton’s win for ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Year marks his first win in the category. His four wins bring his ACM Awards count to 20.

    https://twitter.com/ACMawards/status/1791284044472218014

     

    Audio / CHRIS STAPLETON TALKS ABOUT THE TIME IN BETWEEN WRITING THE TITLE TRACK OF HIS NEW ALBUM, HIGHER, AND ACTUALLY PUTTING IT ON AN ALBUM.

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    Chris Stapleton (Higher title track) OC: …to me. :22
    “’Higher’ is a song that’s been around a long, long time. I wrote it in 2001 in the first few onths of being a professional songwriter here in Nashville, and it was on the first demo session that I ever did here in Nashville. So, for it to come around 22 years later and wind up being the title track of an album is a pretty unique thing to me.”

  • CHRIS STAPLETON WINS MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR AT THE ACM AWARDS.

    Chris Stapleton picked up the award for Male Artist of the Year at this year’s ACM Awards, and earlier this week was named Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

    https://twitter.com/ACMawards/status/1791274047960965509

     

    https://twitter.com/ACMawards/status/1791276509652557997

     

    Chris later performed his current single, “Think I’m In Love With You,” and blew the crowd away with a surprise duet with Dua Lipa!

     

    https://twitter.com/ACMawards/status/1791288415582912967

     

     

     

  • CHRIS STAPLETON NAMED ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AT THIS YEAR’S ACM AWARDS.

    Chris Stapleton was named the winner for Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Chris Stapleton is the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and also the most-recent recipient of the Academy’s coveted Triple Crown prize, which celebrates artists who have won New Female/Male Artist of the Year, Female/Male Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.

    He also has four additional nominations going into Thursday night’s ACM Awards, including Album of the Year (artist and producer) for  Higher, Male Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, and is set to perform live on the show.

    The 59th Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will stream live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday (May 16th) at 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PDT on Prime Video.  You can also catch offical red carpet coverage on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and P, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and Amazon Live, starting at 7 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. PDT.

  • CHRIS STAPLETON PERFORMS AN ELECTRIC VERSION OF “LOVING YOU ON MY MIND” ON THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW.

    Chris Stapleton appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Tuesday (May 14th). He performed “Loving You On My Mind” from his latest album, Higher, and he had some very special guests join him, including ACM-nominated Duo of the Year The War And Treaty, as well as the host herself, Jennifer Hudson.

     

     

    The reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year also sat down to chat about his album, Higher, the major influence his wife Morgane has on his music and opens up about their children’s relationship with his fame. Then the country star reveals how he reacts when he’s mistaken for another celebrity.

    Chris also chatted about going on Saturday Night Live with host Ryan Gosling, revealed whether he would like to explore acting and hosting and also talked about where he keeps his many awards.

     

    Speaking of awards, the Kentucky native, who is making his way up the country charts with “Think I’m In Love With You,” is nominated for five awards at Thursday night’s (May 16th) ACM Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, as well as his ninth consecutive nomination for Male Artist of the Year, an award he’s won three times in the past. Chris is also up for Album of the Year (Higher – Artist & Producer nominations) and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. His wife Morgane Stapleton received her first nomination as a producer on her husband ’s album, Higher. 

    The 59th Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will stream live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on May 16th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT on Prime Video.  You can also catch the official red carpet coverage on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and P, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and Amazon Live, starting at 7pm ET/6pm CT/4pm PT.

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Chris Stapleton, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Anne Wilson, Josh Turner

    Chris Stapleton‘s recent No. 1 song, “White Horse,” was featured in the hit CBS drama, Fire Country, this past weekend. The song from his recent album, Higher, was played during a scene where the firefighters from Cal Fire were racing to a campaign fire.

    Reba McEntire is set to return for her third season as a coach on NBC’s The Voice this fall. She will be joined by friend and returning coach Gwen Stefani, as well as new coaches Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé.

    Reba McEntire shares some of her pre-awards show rituals and more just two days before this year’s ACM Awards. The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards will stream LIVE on Amazon.com Thursday (May 16th) beginning at 8pm ET/5pm CT.

    https://twitter.com/reba/status/1790424018970915121

    George Strait is releasing the song titles of his upcoming album, Cowboys And Dreamers, one by one. Check cowboysanddreamers.com every day to find the MIA titles.

     

    Anne Wilson has three nominations at this year’s KLove Fan Awards. She’s up for Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Strong.” Voting is now live at klovefanawards.com/vote. You can watch them beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT May 31st on TBN.

     

    Josh Turner and Terri Clark are among the artists just announced to open the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium during this year’s CMA Fest, June 6th-9th in downtown Nashville. Craig Morgan, Gretchen Wilson and Old Dominion were also added.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ACM AWARDS 2024 PREVIEW

    The 59th Annual ACM Awards will take place Thursday (May 11th) with a star-studded cast of nominees, performers and presenters.

    Presenters include Jordan Davis (who has four nominations), as well as Little Big Town, Alabama, BRELAND, Tyler Cameron, Sara Evans, Carin León, Ashley McBryde, Dion and Rozene Pride, Noah Reid, Richard Sherman, Charissa Thompson, Randy Travis and Clay Walker

    Previously announced performers include Chris Stapleton, Parker McCollum, host Reba McEntire, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown and Jason Aldean. Post Malone, Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan, Nate Smith and Avril Lavigne, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani will also perform.

    The reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Chris Stapleton has five nods, including one for Entertainer of the Year, as well as his ninth consecutive nomination for Male Artist of the Year, an award he’s won three times in the past. Chris is also up for Album of the Year (Higher – Artist & Producer nominations) and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

    Morgane Stapleton receives her first nomination as a producer on her husband Chris Stapleton’s album Higher. 

    Jordan Davis earns four nominations, including Single of the Year (“Next Thing You Know”), Song of the Year (“Next Thing You Know” – Artist & Songwriter nominations) and Visual Media of the Year (“Next Thing You Know”).

    Parker McCollum is nominated for a pair of awards, including Single of the Year and Visual Media of the Year for “Burn It Down.”

    Brothers Osborne’s nomination for Duo of the Year marks their 17th ACM nomination and the tenth year in a row being nominated for ACM Duo of the Year, an award the pair has brought home four times, including last year.

    Kacey Musgraves’ two nominations this year brings her total nominations count to 27, including eight nominations for Female Artist of the Year. She won the award in 2018, the same year she won Album of the Year for Golden Hour. She is nominated for Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year (“I Remember Everything” w/ Zach Bryan).

    Little Big Town receives its 18th nomination for Group of the Year, which ties the group for the all-time record of 18 nominations for Group of the Year held by Alabama. Little Big Town has been nominated in the category every year since 2005, with the exception of 2011.

    Maddie & Tae are nominated for Duo of the Year, along with Brothers Osborne and The War And Treaty.

    Kassi Ashton and Kylie Morgan have earned their first ACM nomination, which is for New Female Artist of the Year.

    Eric Church is nominated for Music Event of the Year for “Man Made A Bar,” along with Morgan Wallen.

    The ACM Country Kickoff at The Star features performances from nearly every ACM New Artist nominee this year, including Kassi Ashton, Kylie Morgan, Ashley CookeHannah EllisKameron Marlowe, Megan MoroneyNeon UnionRestless RoadDylan ScottConner SmithNate Smith, and Tigirlily Gold. More artists are set to hit the Carhartt Stage in Frisco on Tuesday (May 14th) and Wednesday (May 15th), including Chayce BeckhamAnnie Bosko, Tyler BradenTiera KennedyJenna PauletteAlana SpringsteenMatt Stell, and more.

    There will also be special performances on Tuesday (May 14th) night starting at 8pm CT for Live From the ACM Awards: ACM New Artist Winners Celebration, where the New Artists of the Year category winners for the ACM Awards will be revealed. Country Heat Weekly Podcast hosts Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson will emcee the show, which will air live on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.

    Another event leading up to Thursday night’s (May 16th) ACM Awards, Parker McCollum will serve as the headliner for the ACM Lifting Lives LIVE, presented by Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, the tentpole fundraising event of ACM Awards Week, which brings together artists, industry members, and fans for an all-star concert. The event will take place on the golfing green at Topgolf The Colony on May 15th.

    In its second year in Texas, Parker McCollum and Friends: ACM Lifting Lives LIVE, which will also feature performances by Jordan Davis, among others, will raise money and awareness for ACM Lifting Lives, which works to improve lives through the power of music with a specific focus on health-related initiatives that use music therapy as a way of healing.

    The 59th Annual ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will stream live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on May 16th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT on Prime Video.  You can also catch the official red carpet coverage on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and P, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch and Amazon Live, starting at 7pm ET/6pm CT/4pm PT.

    https://twitter.com/reba/status/1789765727764808074

     

    ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

    • Kane Brown
    • Luke Combs
    • Jelly Roll
    • Cody Johnson
    • Chris Stapleton
    • Morgan Wallen
    • Lainey Wilson

    FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

    • Kelsea Ballerini
    • Ashley McBryde
    • Megan Moroney
    • Kacey Musgraves
    • Lainey Wilson

    MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

    • Luke Combs
    • Jelly Roll
    • Cody Johnson
    • Chris Stapleton
    • Morgan Wallen

     DUO OF THE YEAR

    • Brooks & Dunn
    • Brothers Osborne 
    • Dan + Shay
    • Maddie & Tae 
    • The War And Treaty

    GROUP OF THE YEAR

    • Flatland Cavalry
    • Lady A
    • Little Big Town 
    • Old Dominion
    • Zac Brown Band

    NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

    • Kassi Ashton
    • Ashley Cooke
    • Hannah Ellis
    • Kylie Morgan 
    • Megan Moroney

    NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

    • ERNEST
    • Kameron Marlowe
    • Dylan Scott
    • Conner Smith
    • Nate Smith

    NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

    • Neon Union
    • Restless Road
    • Tigirlily Gold

     

    ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

    Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs
    Producer: Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton, Luke Combs
    Record Company-Label: River House Artists / Columbia Nashville

     Higher – Chris Stapleton
    Producer: Chris Stapleton, Dave Cobb, Morgane Stapleton
    Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville

    Leather – Cody Johnson
    Producers: Trent Willmon
    Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville LLC

    One Thing At A Time – Morgan Wallen
    Producers: Joey Moi, Cameron Montgomery, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett
    Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Republic Records / Mercury Records

    Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good) – Kelsea Ballerini
    Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym
    Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment

    SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

    Burn It Down – Parker McCollum
    Producer: Jon Randall

    Record Company-Label: MCA Nashville

    Fast Car – Luke Combs
    Producers: Luke Combs, Chip Matthews, Jonathan Singleton
    Record Company-Label: River House Artists / Columbia Nashville

    Last Night – Morgan Wallen
    Producer: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome
    Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Republic Records / Mercury Records

    Need A Favor – Jelly Roll
    Producer: Austin Nivarel
    Record Company-Label: Stoney Creek Records / BMG Nashville


    Next Thing You Know – Jordan Davis
    Producer: Paul DiGiovanni

    Record Company-Label: MCA Nashville

     

    SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

    Fast Car – Luke Combs
    Songwriters: Tracy Chapman
    Publishers: Purple Rabbit

    Heart Like A Truck – Lainey Wilson
    Songwriters: Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson
    Publishers: Sony / ATV Countryside; Songs of Riser House; Songs of Wild Cat Well Music

    Next Thing You Know – Jordan Davis
    Songwriters: Chase McGill, Greylan James, Jordan Davis, Josh Osborne

    Publishers: Family Farm Songs; Hold On Can I Get A Number 1 Music; Songs of Universal Inc.

    The Painter – Cody Johnson
    Songwriters: Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, Ryan Larkins
    Publishers: Big Music Machine; BMG Platinum Songs US; Nashblonde Music; Pompano Run Music; Songs for Ellie May; Sony / ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Group; Well That Was Awkward Music

    Tennessee Orange – Megan Moroney
    Songwriters: Ben Williams, David Fanning, Megan Moroney, Paul Jenkins
    Publishers: 33 Creative; Bone Bone Creative; Sony / ATV Tree Publishing

    MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

    Can’t Break Up Now – Old Dominion, Megan Moroney
    Producers: Brad Tursi, Geoff Sprung, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Ross Copperman, Kristian Bush
    Record Company-Label: Three Up Three Down, LLC / Columbia Nashville


    Different ‘Round Here – Riley Green (Ft. Luke Combs)
    Producer: Dann Huff
    Record Company-Label: BMLG Records

     

    I Remember Everything – Zach Bryan (feat. Kacey Musgraves)
    Producer: Zach Bryan
    Record Company-Label: Belting Bronco Records / Warner Records, Inc

     

    Man Made A Bar – Morgan Wallen (feat. Eric Church)
    Producer: Joey Moi
    Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records / Mercury Records / Republic Records

     

    Save Me – Jelly Roll (with Lainey Wilson)
    Producers: Zach Crowell, David Ray Stevens
    Record Company-Label: Stoney Creek Records / BMG Nashville

     

    VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

    Burn It Down – Parker McCollum
    Producers: Christen Pinkston &Wesley Stebbins-Perry

    Director: Dustin Haney

    Human – Cody Johnson
    Producer: Christen Pinkston &Wesley Stebbins-Perry
    Director: Dustin Haney

    In Your Love – Tyler Childers
    Producer: Kacie Barton, Whitney Wolanin, Nicholas Robespierre, Ian Thorton, Silas House
    Director: Bryan Schlam

    Next Thing You Know – Jordan Davis
    Producer: Jamie Stratakis

    Director: Running Bear (Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Stone)

    Tennessee Orange – Megan Moroney
    Producer: Lauren Starr, Saul Levitz, Laura Burhenn
    Director: Jason Lester

    ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

    • Zach Bryan
    • ERNEST
    • HARDY
    • Chris Stapleton
    • Morgan Wallen

     

    Audio / ACM reigning Entertainer of the Year Chris Stapleton talks about his nominated Album of the Year, Higher.

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    Chris Stapleton (Higher album) OC: …on this record. :56
    “One thing that’s probably notable about the record to me is it’s the first one that we’ve put out that doesn’t contain a cover, so there’s no covers on this record. So, in that way, I guess you could say it should be more intrinsically whatever we do. So, there’s definitely some exploration of the edges of what that is, and certainly some moments of stretching out vocally and trying to see what that is. There’s some different stuff on this record, I think, and I think it’s really great. I think it’s something that people will enjoy. I think there’s something on it for everybody, which is kind of always my goal. If you’re a kind of a hardcore traditional country person, there’s a song on there for that somewhere. If you leaned into more of the R&B side of what we do, there’s stuff on there for that. If you like the rock side of things that we do, there’s stuff on there for that. And there’s some really great songs on here. I’m excited about the songs on this record.”

    Audio / Jordan Davis has four nominations going into Thursday night's ACM Awards, and he talked about the morning the nominations came out.

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    Jordan Davis (2024) OC: …shakes out. :32
    “So, when I actually found out that I was nominated, I was driving to rehearsals and I totally forgot that the nominations were coming out that morning, and I looked down and I had 18 text messages, and I was like, ‘Oh, I must’ve gotten nominated.’ (laughs) So, I wasn’t expecting it, I really wasn’t. I mean, I love that song to death. There’s a lot of amazing songs out this year, so I truly just started calling people and saying thank you and already looking forward to being down in Dallas and seeing how this thing shakes out.”

    Audio / Jordan Davis talks about being nominated for one of his songs at the ACM Awards.

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    Jordan Davis (awards nominations) OC: …a song acknowledged. :38
    “Nominations are truly wins. I don’t think any of us really do it for awards. They’re definitely special, but yeah, to be acknowledged by the ACMs for having a song up for Song of the Year, to me, I just go back to watching the ACMs with my family and seeing that award every year and now here I am for a chance to be up there, and I don’t know. It’s just kind of full circle. So, for me, it shows how special country music is, these award shows, but also too, it makes you feel like you’re doing something right enough to get a song acknowledged.”

     

    Audio / Jordan Davis talks about his ACM-nominated song, "What My World Spins Around."

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    Jordan Davis (WMWSA song) OC: …any faster. :47
    “It’s special because of what the song means to me. A lot of the messages, a lot of the comments I get on this are that there’s a spot for everybody on this – married, unmarried, engaged, grandparent, expecting a baby for the first time – there’s a spot for you in it. I’m hoping, that in all honesty, I think where I wrote the song from was you know being a touring musician and being gone for half the year and even in four years of having a kid, I’ve already missed a lot of stuff. I hope that that slows down, or at least I’m able to kinda really cherish some of the moments that I’m at home. So, aybe that’s it. Maybe it’s just seeing people slow down a little bit and realize that time’s moving fast and we don’t need to make it move any faster.”

    Audio / BACKSTAGE AT LAST YEAR'S ACM AWARDS, BROTHERS OSBORNE'S JOHN OSBORNE SAYS AWARDS REMINDS HIM OF THE JOURNEY HE AND HIS BROTHER TJ OSBORNE HAVE TAKEN IN COUNTRY MUSIC.

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    Brothers Osborne (ACM 2023 win) OC: …very grateful for that. :52
    JOHN: “You know, it’s absolutely crazy. I mean, the best way for us to stay grounded is when it happens…it’s a blur on stage. You know, you have an idea of what you’re going to say, it never comes out right. And then, I walked backstage, and we get a million texts from friends, my wife, from family and stuff like that, and it reminds you constantly of where you came from and the journey that you took. There will be a day where we won’t even be nominated, and that’s okay. The reality is nothing is permanent, and we’re fortunately in a position now where we can kind of swim and bask in the glory of something, and that being this country music community has lifted us on their shoulders for years now, and we’d be nothing without them and I’m very grateful for that.”

    Audio / PARKER MCCOLLUM TALKS ABOUT SHOOTING THE VIDEO FOR "BURN IT DOWN."

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    Parker McCollum (Burn It Down video) OC: …turned out great. :38
    “Man, the video was pretty easy, actually. I talked to Dustin, the director, and I was like, ‘Man, I feel like wherever we are, we’re just blowing stuff up and so let’s go blow some stuff up and burn it down.’ And he had a great vision out there in New Mexico. We were in the desert, I mean, the desert, desert. You couldn’t, it was like the ocean, but sand; the middle of the ocean but sand. And it was actually really cold in the morning, then it got really hot at night and then the smoke and the fire and they’re wanting me to walk through it over and over, take after take after take. I’m walking through like this chemical burning black smoke. I’m like this is really risking it for a music video, but it turned out great.”

    Audio / Maddie & Tae talk about their Duo of the Year nomination.

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    Maddie & Tae (Duo nomination) OC: (MADDIE) …super fun. :24
    “Having that nomination was like, ‘Oh, wow, our peers still feel like we’re doing something special and do still believe in us.’ And that was like a really nice like spirit lifter where we were like, ‘Omigosh. We are doing something right, and we’re making music that people are enjoying,’ and that was just a huge, huge compliment. And we’re nominated with some of our favorite people in the industry, so super fun.”

    Audio / The members of Little Big Town talk about winning their very first award at the ACMs.

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    LBT (ACM first award) OC: (KAREN) …so much fun. :24
    JIMI: “The ACM Awards – is that the first?” KAREN: “The first award we ever won? Yeah. We won New Vocal Group. (KIMBERLY: “Yup.”) I can’t even remember what year that was.” KIMBERLY: “I was pregnant. It was 2007.” KAREN: “That’s right. That’s right ‘cause you bounced all the way up. We were like, don’t go into labor.” (LAUGHS) KIMBERLY: “That was our first award ever!” KAREN: “Very special, and this awards show is always like so much fun.”

    Audio / WHEN LAST YEAR'S ACM NOMINATIONS WERE ANNOUNCED, MICHAEL AND TANYA (pr. TONYA) TROTTER OF THE WAR AND TREATY TALK ABOUT THEIR FIRST ACM NOMINATION FOR DUO OF THE YEAR.

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    The War and Treaty (ACM 2023 nomination) OC: (Tanya) …country music. 1:13
    “Hey everybody! I’m Tanya, and I’m Michael, and we’re The War and Treaty. (Michael) This morning, April 13th, we woke up and to be able to see Bobby Bones do the nominations for the ACMS ad get to the category of Duo of the Year, and we were just callin’ ‘em out. We were like, ‘Brooks & Dunn,’ ‘Dan + Shay,’ and we were like ‘Brothers Osborne,’ Brothers Osborne, yes! Dan + Shay, Dan + Shay, and we was like, ‘Yes.’ We were like, ‘Maddie & Tae,’ we was like ‘Yes,’ and then time slowed down. They were like The War and Treaty. And honestly, we burst into tears, we screamed, we yelled, we high-fived, we hugged our manager, Christina. In our minds then traveled back in time and forward. We traveled to Charly Pride, DeFord Bailey and Ray Charles, and we were like, ‘I hope they’re seeing this wherever they are, and I hope they’re dancing and high-fiving as well. Thank you, ACMs.” TANYA: “Thank you so much to the ACMs and everybody who’s nominated and all of our peers in country music.”

    Audio / An emotional Kylie Morgan is blown away by her ACM nomination for New Female Artist of the Year at this year's ACM Awards.

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    Kylie Morgan (ACM 2024 reaction) OC: …so excited. :19
    “I truly still can’t believe that this is actually happening. I’ve been watching the ACMs since I was a little girl, just watching all of my heroes win awards and walk down the red carpet. And the fact that I am now one of those people just absolutely blows my mind and I’m just so thankful and so excited.”

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town

    Luke Bryan appeared on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night (May 7th), and he talked about Cinco de Mayo, his hit song “One Margarita,” his Mom living in Florida and her new house which he bought, her group of friends who have crazy names, having a severe bass fish allergy, American Idol and falling on stage A LOT.

    Dierks Bentley appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America earlier this week. He talked about going back on the road with his Gravel & Gold Tour, as well as performed “American Girl” from the new Tom Petty tribute album.

     

    Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town with Sugarland have been announced as performers for NBC’s Today Show‘s 2024 Citi Concert Series. Chris is set for September 27th, while Little Big Town and Sugarland will perform August 12th.

     

     

     

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Mickey Guyton, Chris Stapleton

    Reba McEntire will perform her new song, “I Can’t,” on NBC’s The Voice on Tuesday (May 7th).

     

     

    Tune in for an intimate Apple Music Live performance of Kacey Musgraves‘s new album, Deeper Well, on Wednesday (May 8th) at 7pm PT/9pm CT/10pm ET on Apple Music.

    https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/1787509279433556165

     

    Mickey Guyton will perform her new song, “Scary Love,” on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday (May 8th).

     

    Chris Stapleton has been announced as one of the headliners for this year’s Austin City Limits Festival. Taking place October 4th-6th and October 11th – 13th at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, the festival will also feature performances from Mickey Guyton, Norah Jones, Dua Lipa, Blink-182, Sturgill Simpson, Pretty Lights, Leon Bridges, Teddy Swims, Orville Peck, Dasha, The Red Clay Strays, Vince Staples and many more.

     

  • CHRIS STAPLETON WILL PERFORM AT THIS YEAR’S ACM AWARDS.

    The first round of artists set to perform live at this year’s ACM Awards have been announced. Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett and Lainey Wilson are all set to take the stage.

    https://twitter.com/ACMawards/status/1784977694113058903

     

    As previously announced, show host Reba McEntire will also take the stage for a show stopping special performance featuring brand new music. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

    Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Chris Stapleton has five nods, including one for Entertainer of the Year, as well as his ninth consecutive nomination for Male Artist of the Year, an award he’s won three times in the past. Chris is also up for Album of the Year (Higher – Artist & Producer nominations) and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

    Morgane Stapleton receives her first nomination as a producer on husband Chris Stapleton’s album Higher. 

    Fans can also tune into the official ACM Red Carpet on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, and Amazon Live, starting at 7 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. CDT / 4 p.m. PDT.

    The 59th Academy of Country Music Awards will stream live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Thursday, May 16th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT on Amazon Prime video. A Prime membership will not be required to watch live, everyone is invited to “attend” the Party of the Year.

    Fans can also tune into the official ACM Red Carpet on Prime Video, the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, and Amazon Live, starting at 7 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. CDT / 4 p.m. PDT.