Alan Jackson, Mickey Guyton and Vince Gill will perform during the National Memorial Day Concert airing May 30th on PBS at 8pm ET. The 90-minute special, hosted by actors Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds) and Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Truman, CSI: NY), will feature all-star performance and tributes from Washington, D.C. and around the nation honoring our American heroes. Others set to perform or appear include Gladys Knight, Sara Bareilles The Four Tops, Army Veteran Colin L. Powell, actors Steve Buscemi, Kathy Baker and Mary McCormack, among others.

Chris Stapleton and Luke Bryan are among the headliners performing at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The three-weekend event, taking place September 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18, will also include performances by Jordan Davis, Maddie & Tae, Sheryl Crow, Zac Brown Band, Dylan Scott Scotty McCreey, Brett Eldredge, Jake Owen, Jimmie Allen, as well as Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Ludacris, Nelly, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Diplo, and many others.

Taylor Swift has made history once again. She will receive the Global Icon Award at the 2021 Brit Awards making her the first female recipient of the honor. The Global Icon award is “the highest accolade given and is reserved for truly exceptional artists” and Swift will be the fourth recipient after Elton John (2014), David Bowie (2016) and Robbie Williams (2017). She is being honored for “her immense impact on music across the world and incredible repertoire and achievements to date” and is also up for the International Female Solo Artist Award at the ceremony, which is taking place Tuesday (May 11th).

Taylor Swift‘s “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s version)” is featured in the trailer for the new animated film, Spirited Untamed, from Dreamworks.  The song originally appeared on her 1989 album, and this is the first and only place to hear her re-recorded version of the song.

Become your own legend. Watch the new #SpiritUntamed TV spot, featuring "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)" and see the movie only in theaters June 4. pic.twitter.com/G3LkFbLdVR

— DreamWorks Animation (@Dreamworks) March 12, 2021

The film, which features the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal, Julianne Moore, Walton Goggins, Andre Braugher, and Isabela Merced, will hit theaters nationwide on June 4th.

Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are among the artists featured on a limited-edition LP for the Grand Ole Opry’s Unbroken: Empty Room, Full Circle album. The announcement came on the anniversary of the Opry’s decision to pause in-house audiences in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Available June 4th, 2021, exclusively on Opry.com and at the Opry’s Nashville-based retail outlets,  the LP includes memorable performances recorded live from the Opry stage in front of an empty house. For 29 weeks, Saturday night Opry shows continued uninterrupted despite public health orders that temporarily shuttered many other live productions. These performances were made possible because of the devotion of Grand Ole Opry members, featured performers, Opry staff and local health officials who safely worked together to bring comfort to millions around the world. Brad Paisley, Marty Stuart, Luke Combs and many more.

Chris Stapleton and his wife, Morgane, join actor-singer Leslie Jordan on his song “Farther Along,” which will be featured on his forthcoming debut album of Southern gospel hymns, Company’s Comin’.  Brothers Osborne’s TJ Osborne, Dolly Parton, Ashley McBryde, Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile and more are featured on the album. The Tennessee native, best known for his roles in TV shows such as “Ally McBeal,” “Boston Public,” “Reba,” “Boston Legal,” and “American Horror Story,” has become a social media favorite while in quarantine for his endearing videos, including a regular “Sunday Mornin’ Hymn Singin'” series.

MCA Recording artist Vince Gill was just awarded his 22nd Grammy Award for his performance of “When My Amy Prays,” in the category of Best Country Solo Performance. Speaking from his home in Nashville, Gill commented, “No matter where someone is in their career, they just want to be heard. So I am very honored to have been chosen for this Grammy, particularly for this song.”

“When My Amy Prays” is from Gill’s critically-acclaimed album OKIE.

One of the most popular artists in modern country music, Vince Gill is famous for his top-notch songwriting, world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring tenor, all wrapped up in a quick and easy wit. In addition to his Grammy awards, Gill has won 18 CMA Awards, including Song of the Year four times – making him the most-awarded artist in that category in CMA history. He has been awarded the prestigious BMI Icon award and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In August 2012, Gill was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Gill was invited to be a touring member of the Eagles in 2017.

https://twitter.com/UMGNashville/status/1371206630717677571

This year’s Grammy Awards have set the stage for this Sunday (March 14th), and several UMG Nashville artists are in the running. Little Big Town picked up two nods for Best Country Album for Nightfall, as well as one for Best Country Duo/Group for “Sugar Coat,” along with Brothers Osborne for “All Night,” their sixth career Grammy nomination.

Eric Church’s “Stick That in Your Country Song,” Vince Gill’s “When My Amy Prays” and Mickey Guyton’s “Black Like Me” are nominated for Best Country Solo Performance.

Mickey, the first Black solo female artist to be nominated in a Grammy country category, will perform her nominated song “Black Like Me” on Sunday’s show, and she says it will be very emotional for her, as is her first Grammy nomination.

“Getting my first Grammy nomination for ‘Black Like Me’ means the absolute world to me,” she says. “I’ve been pursuing music for a very, very, very long time, and there are many times that I thought I was going to quit. And my music journey didn’t change until I stopped running away from who I really am, embracing who I really am, and opening the door for other people, other people that are marginalized.”

Of significant note, Taylor Swift earned six nominations. folklore, a follow-up to her Lover album, was nominated for best pop vocal album. The album’s lead pop single, “cardigan,” was also recognized in the overall Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance categories. Her collaboration with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, “exile,” received a nod in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. If that wasn’t all, the “betty” artist earned a nomination for best song written for visual media for her collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber on Cats’ “Beautiful Ghosts.”

The 63rd annual Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, will broadcast live on Sunday, March 14th beginning at 8pm ET/5pm PT on CBS. The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Best Country Album

Lady Like, Ingrid Andress
Your Life Is a Record, Brandy Clark
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert
Nightfall, Little Big Town
Never Will, Ashley McBryde

Best Country Solo Performance

“Stick That in Your Country Song,” Eric Church
“Who You Thought I Was,” Brandy Clark
“When My Amy Prays,” Vince Gill
“Black Like Me,” Mickey Guyton
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert

Best Country Duo / Group Performance

“All Night,” Brothers Osborne
“10,000 Hours,” Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber
“Ocean,” Lady A
“Sugar Coat,” Little Big Town
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum announced the premiere of the video special “American Currents: Celebrating the State of the Music” at 7pm CT, Friday, March 19th, 2021, on the museum’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. “American Currents: Celebrating the State of the Music” takes music fans inside the museum’s upcoming exhibition “American Currents: State of the Music,” which not only recognizes artists’ industry accomplishments, but also delves into the extraordinary events that shaped country music amid a global health crisis and a renewed push for social justice.

Country Music Hall of Fame Member and Museum Board President Vince Gill will introduce the exhibition and the program. Additionally, CEO Kyle Young will share remarks highlighting the artists, musicians, songwriters and stories featured in the most recent installment of the American Currents: State of the Music exhibition, which is located in the museum’s ACM Gallery.
The video special “American Currents: Celebrating the State of the Music,” underwritten in part by City National Bank, kicks off a year-long series of programming and online content in support of “American Currents: State of the Music.” The video will remain available to view on the museum’s YouTube channel after the premiere.

During the video program, Luke Combs and Rissi Palmer will discuss the past year – how it changed their perspectives and how they managed to stay creative and positive during troubling times. Combs, Palmer and Billy Strings, who are each featured in this year’s exhibition, will also perform.

Presented annually, “American Currents: State of the Music” is based upon the ongoing research and analysis of curators and museum staff to document and interpret significant developments in country music over the previous year. Those recognized in this year’s exhibition, in addition to Combs, Palmer and Strings, are: Gabby Barrett, Casey Beathard, The Chicks, Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Country Music Hall of Fame member Dolly Parton, John Prine, Sister Sadie and Eddie Stubbs.

The exhibition’s Unbroken Circle section illustrates the connection between country music’s past and present by pairing artists with those who have influenced them or share musical perspectives. Those included are Jimmie Allen and Darius Rucker; Ingrid Andress and Faith Hill; Charley Crockett and Freddy Fender; and Dierks Bentley’s Hot Country Knights and the Statler Brothers’ Lester “Roadhog” Moran & the Cadillac Cowboys.

For more information about American Currents: State of the Music, visit www.CountryMusicHallofFame.org.

Reba McEntire returns to reprise her role as “June” on the television show, Young Sheldon on Thursday (February 25^th). Catch her in action beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT on CBS.

https://twitter.com/YoungSheldon/status/1364331280771538946

Darius Rucker will perform his No. 1 hit, “Beers and Sunshine” on NBC’s “TODAY” Show on Friday (February 26th).

Speaking of Darius Rucker and his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates, Post Malone has released a cover of their 1995 hit song “Only Wanna Be With You” ahead of his performance at the Pokémon Day 25th-anniversary virtual concert on Saturday (February 27th).

Little Big Town‘s Kimberly Schlapman appears on The Doctors on Thursday (February 25th). She will talk about the ACM Awards and their initiative ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund and the support it offers for those in the Country Music community financially impacted by the pandemic.  

I’ll be on @TheDoctors today to talk about @ACMawards #ACMLiftingLives COVID-19 Response Fund and the support it offers for those in the Country Music community financially impacted by the pandemic. THIS CAUSE IS SO CLOSE TO MY HEART!! pic.twitter.com/JNFcEBR5Qz

— Kimberly Schlapman (@ohgussie) February 25, 2021

Vince Gill reunites with his longtime friend Lyle Lovett on Friday (February 26th) to share music, memories and more beginning at 9pm ET/8pm CT. Get your tickets here.

Friday! Catch up with Vince as he shares stories and sings some songs with @LyleLovett. Don’t miss out, get your tickets here: https://t.co/zivM5zLYrC pic.twitter.com/MVzFwKXdGQ

— Vince Gill (@VGcom) February 25, 2021

Luke Bryan takes fans behind-the-scenes of the making of his video for “Down to One.” Check it out below.

The nominees for the 63^rd annual Grammy Awards were announced this week, and several UMG Nashville artists are in the running. Little Big Town picked up two nods for Best Country Album for Nightfall, as well as one for Best Country Duo/Group for “Sugar Coat,” along with Brothers Osborne for “All Night.”

There aren’t enough words to describe what these nominations mean to us. Beyond grateful and completely blown away. @RecordingAcad #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/tIV0hsjv01

— Little Big Town (@littlebigtown) November 24, 2020

John and TJ Osborne earn their six Grammy nod and they say they’re still surprised.

Still surprised the @recordingacademy would let us in the room. Even more surprised they would nominate us for a Grammy. Thanks for letting a couple of one stop light town brothers join some brilliant creators. Always a honor. pic.twitter.com/DDikteible

— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) November 25, 2020

Eric Church’s “Stick That in Your Country Song,” Vince Gill’s “When My Amy Prays” and Mickey Guyton’s “Black Like Me” are nominated for Best Country Solo Performance.

Congratulations 63rd #GRAMMYs Best Country Solo Performance nominees: @ericchurch, @TheBrandyClark, @VGcom, @MickeyGuyton, and @mirandalambert: https://t.co/vmaSA9BCsf pic.twitter.com/xz92eeJBYb

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) November 24, 2020

I haven't been able to put into words the emotions I feel. This #GRAMMYs nomination is for every black girl that felt unseen. That felt unheard. That felt like they weren’t enough. That felt shoved in a corner & completely unconsidered. This is for them. Thank you @RecordingAcad pic.twitter.com/3tvKWxOhQ0

— Mickey Guyton (@MickeyGuyton) November 25, 2020

Of significant note, Taylor Swift earned six nominations. Folklore, a follow-up to her Lover album, was nominated for best pop vocal album. The album’s lead pop single, “Cardigan,” was also recognized in the overall Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance categories. Her collaboration with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, “Exile,” received a nod in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. If that wasn’t all, the “betty” artist earned a nomination for best song written for visual media for her collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber on Cats’ “Beautiful Ghosts.”

The 63^rd Annual Grammy Awards will air live January 31^st beginning at 8pm ET. The pre-telecast ceremony will take place earlier in the day via streaming starting at 3pm ET.

Best Country Album

Lady Like, Ingrid Andress
Your Life Is a Record, Brandy Clark
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert
Nightfall, Little Big Town
Never Will, Ashley McBryde

Best Country Solo Performance

“Stick That in Your Country Song,” Eric Church
“Who You Thought I Was,” Brandy Clark
“When My Amy Prays,” Vince Gill
“Black Like Me,” Mickey Guyton
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert

Best Country Duo / Group Performance

“All Night,” Brothers Osborne
“10,000 Hours,” Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber
“Ocean,” Lady A
“Sugar Coat,” Little Big Town
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion

The Grand Ole Opry will welcome back a limited in-venue audience beginning Saturday, October 3, a kick-off of the Opry’s 95th anniversary celebration. Opry members Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, Terri Clark and Lorrie Morgan are scheduled to perform. Bentley, also celebrating his 15th Opry anniversary, was inducted into the Opry family on October 1, 2005.

The in-venue audience will be capped at 500 guests for the October 3rd 95th anniversary celebration. The limited audience will be made up of fans who had previously held tickets for each night’s show.

“With gratitude to the artists who have visited the Opry since March, staff members and partners who have ensured the Opry went on every Saturday, and a worldwide audience for tuning in over the past six months, we are so excited as we plan to welcome fans back to the Opry House,” said Dan Rogers, Opry vice president and executive producer. “So many loyal fans make plans early to be a part of our birthday weekend every year, and I am especially excited that many of those devoted familiar faces will be in the first in-house audience since late last winter. Of course we will only be truly happy when we can return to capacity audiences and full Opry shows that are known around the world.”

Click HERE for a sizzle reel of highlights of just some of the Opry members and special guests who have stepped in to the circle to help the keep the music playing at the Grand Ole Opry since the in-house audience shows were paused on March 14.

The Grand Ole Opry will strictly comply with operating plans developed in partnership with the Nashville Public Health Department and Vanderbilt Health that include socially distanced seating, mandatory masks for all guests and staff, as well as enhanced cleaning practices.

Operating plans include:
• Exclusive to 500 ticketed guests
• Physically distanced seating, allowing those in the same group to sit together but distanced from others
• Mandatory masks for all guests, Opry House operations and production staff
• Designated restrooms, entry and exit points
• No food or beverage service
• Temperature checks for all staff
• Enhanced cleaning practices

As the Opry continues its month-long 95th anniversary celebration with a maximum of 500 fans allowed to be live in the Opry House, the show will continue its one-hour livestream on Circle All Access YouTube,  Twitter and Facebook channels as well as Circle TV , SiriusXM, and the Opry’s flagship home 650 WSM AM and wsmonline.com, allowing fans from around the world to enjoy the high-quality performances from home.

Information regarding ticket availability for October shows will be updated at opry.com.  More details on other Opry 95th Anniversary Celebration shows and digital events happening throughout the month of October will be announced soon.

Those tuning into the Livestream on Circle All Access YouTube, Twitter and Facebook channels Saturday, October 3 can watch a  Circle Sessions: Lauren Alaina at 7:30 PM ET/ 6:30 PM CT immediately prior to the Opry. Alaina talks to host Nan Kelley about her new EP, Getting Over Him, her love of the Grand Ole Opry and the connection she has with her Dad and the Opry. The No. 1 Platinum-selling star also talks about her role as host of the upcoming Circle TV series Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith, launching October 4.

As the Grand Ole Opry approaches its 95th anniversary in the midst of a global pandemic, Opry members and special guest artists kept the music playing from the unbroken circle, and the Opry began reaching some of its largest audiences to date. The Opry has logged viewers from over 100 countries worldwide since shows with a live Opry House audience were paused in mid-March. The Opry livestream has consistently been in the top of the Pollstar Livestream Chart with an average of over 1 million+ viewers each week, and Circle TV’s distribution has grown steadily over the course of the past 29 weeks as well.

In an effort to maintain health and safety amid current COVID-19 concerns, the Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, was forced to pause performances that included a live audience beginning on March 14. The show will have played on without a live ticketed audience for 29 consecutive Saturday night broadcasts before finally welcoming them back. The Opry’s paused shows without an audience have included Opry members Trace Adkins, Bill Anderson, Kelsea Ballerini, Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Terri Clark, Luke Combs, Dailey & Vincent, the Gatlin Brothers, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Dustin Lynch, Chris Janson, Reba McEntire, Craig Morgan, the Oak Ridge Boys, Old Crow Medicine Show, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Jeannie Seely, Blake Shelton, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Steve Wariner, Mark Wills, Trisha Yearwood and Chris Young along with special guests Lady A, Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen, Mandy Barnett, Lee Brice, T. Graham Brown, Luke Bryan, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Jason Crabb, Rodney Crowell, Sara Evans, Amy Grant and daughters Jenny Gill and Corrina Grant Gill, Riley Green, Tracy Lawrence, Ashley McBryde, Chrissy Metz, Keb’ Mo’, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Margo Price, Kellie Pickler, Michael Ray, Runaway June, Billy Strings, The Scott Family, Gwen Stefani, Tenille Townes, Molly Tuttle, Sam Williams, CeCe Winans, Charlie Worsham, and Brett Young.

Chrissy Metz will make her Grand Ole Opry debut this weekend. The This is Us star will share the stage with gospel singer CeCe Winans on Saturday (July 25th) beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT. You can tune in to Circle TV on Facebook, YouTube and cable.

Some of Shania Twain’s most iconic songs, including “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” “Any Man of Mine,” “No One Needs To Know,” “You’re Still The One” and many others are being turned into lullabies. The 12-track collection, Lullaby Renditions of Shania Twain, will be released August 14th.

Vince Gill will reunite with longtime friends and collaborators Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry August 1st.

Chris Stapleton’s headline debut at Chicago’s Wrigley Field has been rescheduled from August 29th to July 17th, 2021. Joining him are The Highwomen, Mavis Staples and The Dirty Knobs with Mike Campbell. All tickets will be honored for the new date, and those unable to attend have a little less than 30 days to obtain a refund from point of purchase.

Members of both the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, Vince Gill and Reba McEntire performed together Saturday during the Opry’s 4,933rd consecutive Saturday night broadcast. Gill was inducted in the Grand Ole Opry on August 10, 1991 and McEntire became a member of the Opry on January 17, 1987.

“Every time I see you, I feel like I’m home. You’re like family,” shared Gill to his longtime friend McEntire. During their Opry performance the pair exchanged personal experiences of working together over the years and their special bond as fellow Okies. Both artists performed several of their biggest hits including Gill’s “What The Cowgirls Do” and “Whenever You Come Around” as well as “The Price of Regret” in honor of Civil Rights Leader and Congressman Senator John Lewis. Gill also sang “Little Brother,” a song he’d written about his friend of 50 years, Benny Garcia, who passed away in May. McEntire opened with “How Blue,” before adding “Back To God,” and “Is There Life Out There”, closing the night with “Fancy.” Together the Opry members sang their #1 duet “The Heart Won’t Lie,” a song that also made Country music history with its accompanying cinematic military-themed music video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmppkWNYKj0&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3di7p8ZHgvqC2cfF4p_9OiKbvHOm6zE-DhQdRZZkM2FQudVLkeSCuip-U

The two Oklahoma natives met in Nashville in 1988 when Gill sang background vocals on McEntire’s self-titled studio album, Reba. In 1990, the pair recorded their first of many duets, “Oklahoma Swing,” the second single from Gill’s breakthrough album, When I Call Your Name.

Next Saturday, July 25 EMI Records Nashville’s recording artist and star of NBC’s hit “This Is Us,” Chrissy Metz and multi-Grammy and Dove award winner, Gospel Music Hall of Fame member CeCe Winans as well as one of the most recognizable voices in country music, Tracy Lawrence, will step in the circle for the Grand Ole Opry’s 4,934th consecutive Saturday night broadcast. Metz’s appearance will mark her Grand Ole Opry debut.

About the Grand Ole Opry
To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.  The Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP).  For more information, visit opry.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: Photos courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC. Chris Hollo, photographer