Sam Hunt will perform his mega-hit “Body Like a Back Road” during Sunday night’s (May 21^st) Billboard Music Awards.

Luke Bryan is nominated in the all-format fan-voted Billboard Chart Achievement category, as well as for Top Country Tour.

Keith Urban has several BBMA nods, including Top Country Album for Ripcord and Top Country Song for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” as well as a nomination for Top Country Artist.

Chris Stapleton is up against Keith as Top Country Artist, as well as Top Country Album for Traveller.

Little Big Town’s “Better Man” is up for Top Country Song, while Dierks Bentley’s “Different for Girls” featuring Elle King, Eric Church’s “Kill a Word” with Rhiannon Giddens and Vince Gill’s appearance on Chris Young’s “Sober Saturday Night” are up for Top Country Collaborations.

Hillary Scott & the Scott Family have three BBMA nominations, including Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album for Love Remains and Top Christian Song for “Thy Will.”

The Billboard Music Awards will air live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas beginning at 8pm ET on ABC.

Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity:
Luke Bryan
Nicki Minaj
The Chainsmokers
The Weeknd
Twenty One Pilots

Top Country Artist:
Florida Georgia Line
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean

Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Dixie Chicks

Top Country Album:
Jason Aldean, They Don’t Know
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
Blake Shelton, If I’m Honest
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Keith Urban, Ripcord

Top Country Song:
Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, “Setting The World On Fire”
Florida Georgia Line, “H.O.L.Y.”
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw, “May We All”
Little Big Town, “Better Man”
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color”

Top Country Collaboration:
Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King, “Different For Girls”
Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, “Setting The World On Fire”
Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens, “Kill A Word”
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw, “May We All”
Chris Young Featuring Vince Gill, “Sober Saturday Night”

Top Christian Artist:
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong Worship
Hillary Scott & the Scott Family
Skillet
Chris Tomlin

Top Christian Album:
Casting Crowns, The Very Next Thing
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
Joey + Rory, Hymns
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, Love Remains
Skillet, Unleashed

Top Christian Song:
Lauren Daigle, “Trust In You”
Hillary Scott & The Family, “Thy Will”
Skillet, “Feel Invincible”
Ryan Stevenson Featuring GabeReal, “Eye Of The Storm”
Zach Williams, “Chain Breaker”

Keith Urban is poised to enter the Top 10 on the country chart with his latest single, “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood.

“It was a really simple idea that you’re in a relationship, at the beginning of the relationship, and in my case, the girl…just wants reassurance, and I thought I’d love to hear that in a song where the girl says really simple things,” says Keith. “I just liked the simplicity of all that, because that’s been my experience. More often than not, the more real, simple scenario is pretty universal.”

Keith co-wrote the song, the follow-up to his 22nd No. 1 single “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” with busbee, who also co-wrote “Sun Don’t Let Me Down” and “Your Body,” which are also included on the Ripcord album.

Keith Urban performed the National Anthem before the Nashville Predators played host to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night (May 16th) at Game 3 of the NHL’s Western Conference finals in the run for the Stanley Cup.

When there's hockey in Smashville, you already know there's a stellar anthem.

Tonight, @KeithUrban took his turn! #StanleyCup https://t.co/8DPFkmRZVX

— NHL (@NHL) May 17, 2017

In fact, it’s the first time during his 25 years of living in the States to even be asked to perform the Anthem. “Hey, everyone! We’re here at the Preds game. I’ve lived in America for almost 25 years, and I’ve never been asked to sing the national anthem… until tonight. So, it’s a huge honor. Thank you, Preds, for asking me. Go Preds!”

Go #Preds!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ljifWPjVQy

— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) May 17, 2017

Keith follows Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Vince Gill along with daughters Jenny and Corrina and Lady Antebellum in singing the Anthem during the Preds Stanley Cup Playoff run.

Longtime Preds fan, Dierks Bentley, was feeling a little under the weather, but was definitely  in attendance with his family to cheer on Nashville’s NHL team.

Little sick, resting my voice. but cass and I got our three best players (cheerers) with us tonight to do all the … https://t.co/afv9Gyu2Or pic.twitter.com/d9gnbDHrtA

— Dierks Bentley (@DierksBentley) May 17, 2017

And…of course Carrie Underwood was at Bridgestone Arena to cheer on her hubby Mike Fisher and the rest of the Preds.

The energy in this building is incredible! @PredsNHL #NSHvsANA

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 17, 2017

Aaaaaaand… @KeithUrban just kicked it all off!!!

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 17, 2017

Name That Tune: Arena Organ Addition…
You know you you've made it when! #TheFighter @keithurban https://t.co/zmhziyCei4

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 17, 2017

And Little Big Town, who sang the National Anthem prior to Game 3 of Round 2, were in attendance as well, celebrating the 2 – 1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.

Go Preds!!! pic.twitter.com/HeWdUcoO6S

— Karen Fairchild (@KarenFairchild) May 17, 2017

Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Little Big Town, Josh Turner, Jon Pardi and Lauren Alaina are among the artists featured on the new NOW That’s What I Call Country, Vol. 10 compilation, due June 9th. The latest installment of the popular NOW series will include some of today’s biggest hits, including “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “Fast,” “Black,” “Kill a Word,” “Better Man,” “Hometown Girl,” “Dirt On My Boots” and “Road Less Traveled,” as well as Jason Aldean’s “Any Ol’ Bar Stool,” Kenny Chesney’s “Bar At the End of the World” and Dustin Lynch’s “Seein’ Red,” among others.

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the NOW Country brand, there will also be a Deluxe Version, featuring 14 more hits that will be released at the same time. Some of the bonus tracks include Sam Hunt’s “Take Your Time,” Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now,” Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel,” Brad Paisley’s “She’s Everything” and Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

NOW That’s What I Call Country, Vol. 10 Track List:

1. Keith Urban- “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
2. Jon Pardi – “Dirt On My Boots”
3. Josh Turner – “Hometown Girl”
4. Jason Aldean – “Any Ol’ Bar stool”
5. Luke Bryan – “Fast”
6. Dierks Bentley  – “Black”
7. Kenny Chesney – “Bar At The End Of The World”
8. Dustin Lynch – “Seein’ Red”
9. Lauren Alaina – “Road Less Traveled”
10. Old Dominion – “Song For Another Time”
11. Eric Church – “Kill A Word”
12. Little Big Town – “Better Man”
13. Chris Young f/ Vince Gill -“Sober Saturday”
14. Brad Paisley – “Today”
15. Michael Ray – “Think A Little Less”
16. Maren Morris – “80s Mercedes”
17. Kelsea Ballerini – “Yea Boy”
18. Miranda Lambert – “Vice”

NOW presents What’s Next
19. Canaan Smith – “Like You That Way”

Deluxe Bonus Tracks:

1. Luke Bryan – “Country Girl”
2. Jason Aldean – “Dirt Road”
3. Sam Hunt – “Take Your Time”
4. Carrie Underwood – “Jesus Take The Wheel”
5. Eric Church – “Like A Wrecking Ball”
6. Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”
7. Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”
8. Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
9. Brad Paisley – “She’s Everything””
10. Kenny Chesney – “Somewhere With You”
11. Josh Turner – “Your Man”
12. Jake Owen – “Barefoot”
13. Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel”
14. Cam – “Burning House”

Keith Urban leads the list of nominees with four for this year’s CMT Music Awards, tying with Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini for most nominations. He’s up for Video of the Year for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” as well as Male Video, Collaborative Video for “The Fighter” featuring Carrie Underwood and Social Superstar.

Voting is now open and continues until June 5^th at CMT.com.

The CMT Music Awards, featuring performances from Luke Bryan and many others, will air live from Nashville’s Music City Center on Wednesday, June 7th at 8pm ET.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

Artists of Then, Now & Forever “Forever Country”

Brad Paisley “Today”

Brett Eldredge “Wanna Be That Song”

Carrie Underwood “Church Bells”

Cole Swindell “Middle Of A Memory”

Dierks Bentley and Elle King “Different For Girls”

Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.”

Jon Pardi “Dirt On My Boots”

Keith Urban “Blue Ain’t Your Color”

Kelsea Ballerini “Peter Pan”

Little Big Town “Better Man”

Luke Bryan “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day”

Miranda Lambert “Vice”

Thomas Rhett “Star of the Show”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

Carrie Underwood “Church Bells”

Kelsea Ballerini “Peter Pan”

Lauren Alaina “Road Less Traveled”

Maren Morris “80s Mercedes”

Miranda Lambert “Vice”

Reba McEntire “Back To God”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

Blake Shelton “Came Here To Forget”

Eric Church “Record Year”

Jason Aldean “Lights Come On”

Keith Urban “Blue Ain’t Your Color”

Luke Bryan “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day”

Thomas Rhett “Star of the Show”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

Big & Rich Feat. Tim McGraw “Lovin’ Lately”

Brothers Osborne “21 Summer”

Dan + Shay “How Not To”

Florida Georgia Line “H.O.L.Y.”

LOCASH “I Know Somebody”

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

Eli Young Band “Saltwater Gospel”

Lady Antebellum “You Look Good”

Little Big Town “Better Man”

Midland “Drinkin’ Problem”

Old Dominion “Song For Another Time”

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

Brett Young “In Case You Didn’t Know”

Jon Pardi “Dirt On My Boots”

Kane Brown “Used to Love You Sober”

Lauren Alaina “Road Less Traveled”

Luke Combs “Hurricane”

Raelynn “Love Triangle”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR:

Artists of Then, Now & Forever “Forever Country”

Chris Young Feat. Vince Gill “Sober Saturday Night”

Dierks Bentley Feat. Elle King “Different for Girls”

Florida Georgia Line Feat. Tim McGraw “May We All”

Keith Urban Feat. Carrie Underwood “The Fighter”

Kenny Chesney With Pink “Setting the World on Fire”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR:

Jason Aldean “Hicktown (From CMT Concert of the Summer)”

Jason Derulo and Luke Bryan “Want to Want Me (From CMT Crossroads)”

John Mellencamp and Darius Rucker “Pink Houses (From CMT Crossroads)”

Alicia Keys and Maren Morris “80s Mercedes (From CMT Crossroads)”

Meghan Trainor, Jill Scott and Kelsea Ballerini “You’re Still the One/Any Man of Mine/Man I Feel Like a Woman (From CMT Artists of the Year)”

Nick Jonas and Thomas Rhett “Close (From CMT Crossroads)”

SOCIAL SUPERSTAR:

Brett Eldredge

Jake Owen

Keith Urban

Kelsea Ballerini

Lauren Alaina

Thomas Rhett

Chris Stapleton will appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (May 8th) and Howard Stern on Tuesday (May 9th).

Chris Stapleton and Shania Twain will perform during NBC’s Today Show summer concert series. Shania will take the stage in Rockefeller Plaza June 16th, while Chris, who just released his album From A Room, Volume 1, is scheduled to perform July 18th. Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley, Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran are also scheduled to perform throughout the summer.

Dierks Bentley appears on ABC’s Good Morning America on Tuesday (May 9th) to announce the lineup for this year’s GMA Summer Concert Series.

Keith Urban earned platinum certification for several of his albums, including Ripcord, Fuse, Get Closer and Greatest Hits-18 Kids.

Kip Moore and Lauren Alaina will take part in the fourth annual Georgia on My Mind concert, hosted by the Peach Pickers (songwriters Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip), on May 16^th at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The event is a fundraiser for the Georgia Music Foundation and will also feature performances by Michael Ray and Chris Janson.

Lady Antebellum will take part in a multi-artist episode of CMT Crossroads featuring Earth, Wind & Fire. The latest installment will film in downtown Nashville during this year’s CMA Music Festival.

Keith Urban’s 2016 release RIPCORD, which has been #1 on the Billboard Country Album Chart the last two weeks, is making history yet again by propelling him into the country music record books.

Keith is one of only two country artists whose 2016 album release was certified platinum by the RIAA. RIPCORD also places him as the second country artist (amongst artists with nine or more platinum releases) to currently have every album certified platinum or multi-platinum.  This platinum streak of nine also places Urban at #8 on the all-time list of country artists with consecutive platinum albums.

Upon its release, Keith yet again did what no other male solo country artist in history has been able to do, celebrating a #1 all-genre album chart position simultaneously in the U.S., Australia and Canada.  RIPCORD has also been certified platinum in Australia and Gold in Canada.

RIPCORD has also produced four #1 country radio singles bringing Urban’s career total #1 singles to twenty two (on Mediabase). This also brings his record-breaking, historic run of consecutive Top 10 songs to an incredible 37 and places Urban at #8 on Billboard’s all-time Country Airplay Chart.

Keith’s significance in the streaming marketplace is undeniable, as his worldwide streams have topped 3.4 BILLION, with over 524 million on RIPCORD alone.  His latest #1 song “Blue Ain’t Your Color” has over 160 million streams and it spent 13 weeks as the most-streamed country song.

In Australia, RIPCORD was 2016’s #2 selling album on the all-genre chart behind Adele’s 25.  It spent 27 weeks in the Top 10.  The album also produced Urban’s first Top 10 and over 6.4 million streams. In Canada, with over 29 million streams, RIPCORD has produced four No. 1 country radio singles, all of which have held the No. 1 spot for 3 weeks or more.

Keith is scaling the country charts with his latest single, “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood.

Keith Urban just celebrated his fifth anniversary of being an official member of the Grand Ole Opry on Friday (April 21st). On that night five years ago, he showed the fans in the audience, the ones watching it on TV or hearing it on the radio, just why he’s been such a great ambassador for country music and for Nashville and how deserving he is of Opry membership. He performed a handful of his hits, including “Days Go By,” an acoustic version of “Without You” before Opry members Trace Adkins and Josh Turner and helped to present Keith with his Opry award, a 14-inch replica of the Grand Ole Opry microphone stand with a base made from wood from the Ryman Auditorium.

After Trace officially welcomed him into the family, Keith said “Thank you very much! Yee Haw!” After thanking Pete Fisher, the General Manager of the Opry, as well as other Opry members, his parents who gave him his love of country music, his wife and two daughters and his fans, among others, the superstar said. “I just want to thank the Opry for this honor, but also this responsibility,” says Keith. “I take this responsibility very seriously.” The superstar born in New Zealand and raised in Australia continued, “it’s a long way from Caboolture [Queensland, Australia] to the stage here at the Grand Ole Opry … and to stand in this circle is the most phenomenal thing. I just want to thank the Opry for this honor, but also the responsibility. This is a responsibility that I take deep to the heart of me. …This once and for all shows the global popularity and reach of country music. … I honor the history of country music, but I absolutely fully dedicate myself to the future of country music, as well. God bless you all.” He wrapped it up with “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me.”

“I was thinking what it means to me to be inducted into the Opry is probably no more than just a feeling of they know where my heart is – that’s what it means to me to get this induction,” said Keith. “And the foundation was always country, so to get this induction…this is exactly where my heart is; always has been.”

Keith is currently making his way up the country charts with his latest single, “The Fighter,” featuring Carrie Underwood. For more information on Keith including tour dates, go to keithurban.net.

The nominees for the 2017 Billboard Music Awards were announced and several of your favorite country artists are up for awards. Luke Bryan is nominated in the all-format fan-voted Billboard Chart Achievement category, as well as for Top Country Tour.

Keith Urban has several BBMA nods, including Top Country Album for Ripcord and Top Country Song for “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” as well as a nomination for Top Country Artist.

Chris Stapleton is up against Keith as Top Country Artist, as well as Top Country Album for Traveller.

Little Big Town’s “Better Man” is up for Top Country Song, while Dierks Bentley’s “Different for Girls” featuring Elle King, Eric Church’s “Kill a Word” with Rhiannon Giddens and Vince Gill’s appearance on Chris Young’s “Sober Saturday Night” are up for Top Country Collaborations.

Hillary Scott & the Scott Family have three BBMA nominations, including Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album for Love Remains and Top Christian Song for “Thy Will.”

The Billboard Music Awards will air on May 21 at 8PM on ABC.

Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity:
Luke Bryan
Nicki Minaj
The Chainsmokers
The Weeknd
Twenty One Pilots

Top Country Artist:
Florida Georgia Line
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean

Top Country Tour:
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Dixie Chicks

Top Country Album:
Jason Aldean, They Don’t Know
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
Blake Shelton, If I’m Honest
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Keith Urban, Ripcord

Top Country Song:
Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, “Setting The World On Fire”
Florida Georgia Line, “H.O.L.Y.”
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw, “May We All”
Little Big Town, “Better Man”
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color”

Top Country Collaboration:
Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King, “Different For Girls”
Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, “Setting The World On Fire”
Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens, “Kill A Word”
Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw, “May We All”
Chris Young Featuring Vince Gill, “Sober Saturday Night”

Top Christian Artist:
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong Worship
Hillary Scott & the Scott Family
Skillet
Chris Tomlin

Top Christian Album:
Casting Crowns, The Very Next Thing
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
Joey + Rory, Hymns
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, Love Remains
Skillet, Unleashed

Top Christian Song:
Lauren Daigle, “Trust In You”
Hillary Scott & The Family, “Thy Will”
Skillet, “Feel Invincible”
Ryan Stevenson Featuring GabeReal, “Eye Of The Storm”
Zach Williams, “Chain Breaker”