Chris is nominated for a pair of awards, including Male Vocalist and Music Video of the Year for his LEGO-themed “Second One to Know.” He’s also set to release his fourth studio album, Starting Over, on Friday (November 13th).
Lauren Alaina has been tapped as a presenter on the show, and she’ll be joined by Lauren Akins (NYT best-selling author and wife of Thomas Rhett), as well as Charles Esten, Sara Evans, Jake Owen, supermodel Taylor Hill, actor Patrick Schwarzenegger and gospel superstar CeCe Winans.
Previously announced performers include hosts Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker taking the stage together for an emotional, groundbreaking tribute performance. Darius will also take the stage with Lady A. Additional performances include Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Little Big Town, Jon Pardi, Keith Urban,Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie Puth, Luke Combs, Florida GeorgiaLine, Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Rascal Flatts,Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen,Ingrid Andress, Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, Jenee Fleenor, Old Dominion, CarlyPearce and Lady A’s Charles Kelley and Morgan Wallen and Thomas Rhett feat. McEntire, HillaryScott and Chris Tomlin.
“The 54th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker, will broadcast live from Nashville’s Music City Center Wednesday, November 11th at 8pm ET on ABC.
Chrissy Metz launches “Live From Home,” her four-part interactive live stream series this Saturday, Nov. 21 on ChrissyMetz.Topeka.Live at 9pm ET / 6 PT. The series will have Chrissy sharing stories, engaging directly with Front Row ticket holders and performing songs for the virtual audience. For the first show this Saturday, Chrissy will be joined by This Is Us co-star Chris Sullivan who will also be playing a few songs from his latest music album as Joseph The Spouse, Six Feet Under, out Nov. 19th.
Tickets range from show bundles and a front row VIP experience including a hang with Chrissy to a “pay what you can” option for everyone to enjoy these unique, fun shows with Chrissy. Dates are Nov. 21, Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Jan. 9. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ChrissyMetz.Topeka.Live.
Chrissy recently released the holiday classic “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and her current single “Talking To God” is playing on country radio now. Fans can also hear songs “Actress,” “Feel Good,” and more on Chrissy’s Feel Good Playlist. Chrissy made her debut at the famed Grand Ole Opry this summer after signing a record deal with Universal Music Group Nashville earlier this year. Chrissy has showcased her vocal abilities as “Kate Pearson” on NBC’s award-winning series This Is Us and, while starring in 20th Century Fox’s Breakthrough movie, the soundtrack features her performance of the Oscar-nominated track, “I’m Standing With You.” For more information, visit www.ChrissyMetzMusic.com.
“Hey guys! Gary Allan here. I just want to wish everybody a Happy Thanksgiving, and have a Happy Holidays and make sure you’re safe out there. Drive safe. Party your butts off, but do it safe.”
“Happy Thanksgiving everybody. It’s Keith Urban here. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all of you listening for your incredible love and support that I’ve received over the last year, and to wish you and all of your family all the very best for this holiday.”
EMI Nashville’s Kylie Morgan has been named as one of VEVO’s 2021 DSCVR Artists to Watch. The program highlights 19 of the world’s top emerging artists poised to break out over the next year. Kylie was the only country artist selected for the program’s class of 2021 and VEVO will roll out two acoustic performance videos from Kylie in the coming weeks. Past alumni of VEVO’s DSCVR series include Billie Eilish, Sam Smith, Maggie Rogers and Alessia Cara.
2021 VEVO ‘Artists to Watch’
24kGoldn
Alfie Templeman
Bow Anderson
Dylan Fuentes
Finn Askew
Flo Milli
Giveon
GRACEY
Holly Humberstone
KennyHoopla
Kylie Morgan
Olivia Dean
Pa Salieu
Remi Wolf
S1mba
Scribz Riley
Shaybo
Surf Mesa
Toosii
Last month, Kylie dropped her new song “Cuss a Little” featuring fellow SMACKSongs songwriter Walker Hayes, listen HERE. The tongue in cheek tune is yet another display of Morgan’s authentic and natural storytelling ability paired with her unique sound. It’s a catchy and relatable track that continues to reveal Kylie’s irresistible personality.
Earlier this year, Kylie released “Break Things” which has continued to accumulate impressive streaming numbers since its release. The infectious track hit both the Spotify US and Global Viral Charts and was also selected as part of the Amazon Weekly One program. Kylie just released the official video for “Break Things” which can be viewed HERE. In an exclusive with People.com, fans can also watch the behind the scene footage for the “Break Things” video.
The Oklahoma native starting writing songs at the age of 12 and gained national attention from music producers and television executives after releasing her music independently. This early success led Kylie to begin making regular trips to Nashville, crafting her voice and polishing her songwriting. When she turned 19, she made the decision to call Music City home. Recognizing Kylie’s unique talent, the SMACKSongs team signed her to their roster under the guidance of GRAMMY Award-winning songwriters, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.
To give fans a glimpse into her upbringing and passion to pursue music, Kylie returned to her hometown of Newcastle, OK to film her “Hometown Heartland” series earlier this year. Fans can watch all six episodes HERE.
An avid yoga enthusiast, Kylie has earned her official Yoga Alliance Certification and participates in yoga daily. While stuck at home and unable to tour, Kylie created the #namasteathome series where fans can participate in short yoga flows/light workouts, watch HERE.
Kylie was previously selected as one of three artists for the CMA KixStart program where she will receive unique opportunities to participate in events as well as connect with industry professionals. Kylie has been named to several Artists to Watch lists including CMT, SiriusXM On The Horizon, Taste of Country and Pandora. Kylie has previously toured with artists including Dan + Shay, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Kip Moore Gavin DeGraw, Brett Eldredge and Billy Currington. Kylie is currently in the studio working on her debut album with producers Shane McAnally and Ben Johnson.
For a full list of tour dates, news, images and more, visit www.KylieMorgan.com
Chris Stapleton’s highly anticipated new album, Starting Over, is out today on Mercury Records Nashville. Stream/purchase here.
In celebration of the release, Stapleton was a guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last night performing the album’s title track and speaking with the host. Watch the performance HERE and interview HERE. Additionally, he joined the show earlier this week for a special comedy segment, “A Very Covid Christmas.” Stapleton was also recently featured on NBC’s “Sunday TODAY withWillie Geist,” NPR’s “Morning Edition” and performed an acoustic version of “Starting Over” at the 54th Annual CMA Awards.
StartingOver is an album of startling prescience, featuring fourteen tracks that examine life’s simplest joys and most serious struggles. Once again produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb, the record is already receiving overwhelming critical acclaim:
“Chris Stapleton may have the album of the year with Starting Over”—American Songwriter
“a sure-footed masterpiece…one of the year’s finest albums”—Associated Press
“Simply put, there are few recording artists in country operating at Stapleton’s level, and Starting Over keeps the bar very high.” —Billboard
“a dynamite and dynamic new album from the mighty-voiced Kentucky native…the singer-songwriter is hitting new heights, nailing the crossroads of country, rock, gospel, and pop across 14 tracks.”—Entertainment Weekly
“14 rich, intricately-wound odes to tiny admissions and big emotions”—Esquire
“He has nothing left to prove, but somehow, he just gets incrementally better…This is as good as any of his albums and maybe just a tad better.”—Glide
“mixes beautifully stark songwriting with blues, country, and rock melodies, allowing Stapleton’s sturdy, propulsive vocals to carry the show”—GQ
“vividly exemplifies the complex emotional character of Stapleton’s best music. He’s burly but soft. Tough yet vulnerable. A protector of his loved ones and a man in perpetual search of shelter.”—Los Angeles Times
“What makes Starting Over unique is its emotional center…Stapleton cuts through the tangled jungle of pre-COVID life like a machete, clearing a new path forward.”—Nashville Lifestyles
“Chris is at the top of his game with this record. It sounds like a record from a great.” —NPR Music
“Starting Over may be Stapleton’s best album yet…every song on the album comes as a perfectly wrapped gift to the listener”—No Depression
“The chill Nashville trailblazer feels at home in songs that echo his pop songwriting and his country roots.”—Rolling Stone
“if Starting Over offers a statement of principles, it’s that Stapleton is going to make Stapleton music, equal parts country, Southern rock, raw sentimentality, and self-reflective singer-songwriter-ism.”—Slate
“lands precisely where country meets Southern soul: with grit, details, clarity and ache.” —The New York Times
“the results are stunning…his most personal work yet.”—The Ringer
“expands a sonic identity and storytelling fervor that Stapleton established on his paramount debut, Traveller, and its two-part follow-up, From A Room Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.”—The Tennessean
“He has [Willie] Nelson’s tender touch, but his bluesy side is much louder; his is a part-acoustic, part-stinging approach in which Nelson’s Trigger meets B.B. King’s Lucille.”—Variety
“It’s every bit the tour de force his breakthrough album was…Elegant writing and delicate musicianship combine in an album ranking among the year’s best.”—Vulture
Starting Over finds Stapleton back in his second home, Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A (with additional work done at Muscle Shoals Sound and Compass Sound Studio), surrounded by his trusted collaborators as well as some new faces. In addition to Cobb (acoustic guitar), the record features his beloved wife, Morgane Stapleton (vocals, tambourine), with J.T. Cure (bass) and Derek Mixon (drums). Special guests include legendary musicians Mike Campbell (electric guitar), Benmont Tench (Hammond B3 organ) and Paul Franklin (pedal steel) as well as the All Voices Choir who are featured on “Watch You Burn,” written by Stapleton and Campbell.
Kentucky-born Stapleton is a 5x Grammy, 10x CMA and 7x ACM Award-winner and one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians. Following 2015’s quadruple platinum breakthrough solo debut album Traveller, Stapleton released two No. 1 albums in 2017. Both From A Room: Volume 1 (certified platinum) and From A Room: Volume 2 (certified gold) take their name from legendary RCA Studio A, where they were recorded with Cobb. Released to overwhelming critical acclaim, The Tennessean praises, “Both are rich with the textures of Stapleton’s vocals that make him one of country music’s most beloved artists, classic country sounds and thoughtful articulate lyrics about love, life and pain.” He was recently announced as the first-ever “Artist-Songwriter of the Decade” recipient by the Academy of Country Music and, next year, will be the subject of a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show” tour is planned to resume next year. Highlights include headline shows at Washington State’s Gorge Amphitheatre, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, New York’s Madison Square Garden and “A Concert for Kentucky”—a special performance benefitting his newly created Outlaw State of Kind Hometown Fund to be held at University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field on April 24. Presented by Live Nation, the performance is the first concert ever held at UK’s Kroger Field and will feature very special guests Willie Nelson & Family, Sheryl Crow and Yola. 100% of the concert’s net proceeds will go toward Chris and Morgane Stapleton’s Outlaw State of Kind Hometown Fund. Established in partnership with the Blue Grass Community Foundation, the fund will specifically support local and national organizations directly impacting Kentucky, with initial grant distributions focusing on music and arts education. See below for complete itinerary.
STARTING OVER TRACK LIST:
Starting Over
Devil Always Made Me Think Twice
Cold
When I’m With You
Arkansas
Joy Of My Life
Hillbilly Blood
Maggie’s Song
Whiskey Sunrise
Worry B Gone
Old Friends
Watch You Burn
You Should Probably Leave
Nashville, TN
Audio / Chris Stapleton talks about his new album, Starting Over.
Chris Stapleton (Starting Over album slice of life) OC: …was recorded. :38
“I mean obviously, there are three covers on the record that are older songs. There are a few songs that I pulled from my big sack of songs (laughs), but a lot of the songs on this record kind of happened in the space of making the record. Now granted, that process happened between 2018 and early 2020, so there’s a two, two-plus year period there that a lot can happen. So, in that sense, it’s probably more of a slice of life than some of the previous records that you get this kind of in-the-moment feeling even if the moment that we’re in now is very different than the moment that this was recorded.”
“The 54th Annual CMA Awards” take place on Wednesday (November 11th), and UMG Nashville will be represented in many of the night’s categories, including Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist, Male Vocalist, Album, Group, Duo, Music Video and more.
Eric Church, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are vying for Entertainer of the Year, alongside Luke Combs and Miranda Lambert.
Keith earned three nods this year, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year for Thomas Rhett’s “Be A Light,” which features Keith, Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin.
Eric Church and Carrie Underwood each earned two nods apiece – both have an Entertainer of the Year nomination, as well as Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist, respectively. Chris Stapleton is up against Church for Male Vocalist, but also has a Music Video nomination for his LEGO-themed “Second One to Know.”
Jon Pardi is nominated in the Album of the Year category for the acclaimed Heartache Medication collection.
Little Big Town is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year; Brothers Osborne and Maddie & Tae are up for Duo of the Year, while Kacey Musgraves is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Reba McEntire is nominated alongside Keith Urban for Musical Event of the Year for Thomas Rhett’s “Be A Light,” which also features Hillary Scott and Chris Tomlin.
Caylee Hammack is also nominated in the Musical Event of the Year category for “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” with Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde and Tenille Townes.
“The 54th Annual CMA Awards,” hosted by Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker, will be broadcast live from Nashville on Wednesday (November 11th) at 8pm ET on ABC.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Miranda Lambert
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
ALBUM OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist and Producer(s)
Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi
Never Will – Ashley McBryde
Producers: Jay Joyce, John Peets
Old Dominion – Old Dominion
Producers: Shane McAnally, Old Dominion
What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
Producer: Scott Moffatt
Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Jay Joyce
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady A
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
SINGLE OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist(s), Producer(s) and Mix Engineer
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Producer: Dan Smyers
Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” – Luke Combs
Producer: Scott Moffatt
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
“I Hope” – Gabby Barrett
Producers: Ross Copperman, Zach Kale
Mix Engineer: Buckley Miller
SONG OF THE YEAR Award goes to Songwriters
“Bluebird”
Songwriters: Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert
“The Bones”
Songwriters: Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
“Even Though I’m Leaving”
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Ray Fulcher
“I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Songwriters: Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Carly Pearce, Jonathan Singleton
“More Hearts Than Mine”
Songwriters: Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis, Derrick Southerland
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artists and Producer(s)
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Producer: Dan Smyers
“Be A Light” – Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, Keith Urban
Producer: Dann Huff
“The Bones” – Maren Morris with Hozier
Producer: Greg Kurstin
“Fooled Around And Fell In Love” – Miranda Lambert (feat. Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes & Caylee Hammack)
Producer: Jay Joyce
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
Producer: busbee
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR Award goes to Artist(s) and Director
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay (with Justin Bieber)
Director: Patrick Tracy
“Bluebird” – Miranda Lambert
Director: Trey Fanjoy
“Homemade” – Jake Owen
Director: Justin Clough
“I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice
Director: Sam Siske
“Second One To Know” – Chris Stapleton
Director: David Coleman
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jimmie Allen
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Carly Pearce
Morgan Wallen
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
Rob McNelley, Guitar
Ilya Toshinskiy, Guitar
Derek Wells, Guitar
Audio / In 2019, Eric Church put on his amazing Double Down Tour in which he played 3 1/2 to 4 hours a night. He says loves performing live for his fans.
Eric Church (performing energy) OC: …type of crowd. :40 “Well, I think for me every night I try to empty the tank. There’s always that energy floating around. It’s a palpable thing, and it’s up to me to start that exchange and get the crowd to give it back to me and then watch it build on itself and just to have that experience. We have one night here in whatever city we’re in, you know, we’ve got this night. I’m not gonna see you for a while you’re not gonna see me for a while, you know? And I love being able to capitalize on that moment and trying to live in that moment and get as much energy exchange between myself and the crowd as we can. I love that. That’s my favorite part of what we do. I love being around people, I’m very passionate about my music, and I love people who are passionate about the music too and I love playing a show for that type of crowd.”
Audio / In 2019, Carrie Underwood headlined the Cry Pretty Tour 360 with sold-out shows across the country. This year, she's put out a book, created a fitness app and released her first Christmas album. She says she loves performing live for fans.
Carrie Underwood (performing live on stage) OC: …a lot of fun. :35 “I think my favorite thing about performing live is just getting kind of lost in the music and the show. I have as much fun as hopefully everybody sitting out in the audience is having. I get to connect with the fans. I get to see people. The people that are streaming music and downloading music and buying albums, they’re finally in front of me. To get to have that moment with them is so much fun. The lights and the costumes and getting to have moments with my band members on stage, I mean it’s all a lot of fun.”
Audio / Keith Urban recalls winning his first CMA Entertainer of the Year Award in 2005.
Keith Urban (winning EOY in 2005) OC: …magical night. :43 “What I remember about the Entertainer of the Year category in 2005 was that first feeling when people say it’s just an honor to be nominated, and I thought, ‘I know what that means! I know what that feels like,’ because for me it was a huge honor to be nominated so soon into my recording career. To be in that category, it just felt unbelievably quick for me. And then when they read my name out as the winner, I think I actually said, ‘I thought I was just rounding out the category,’ because [laughs] I thought you’ve got to have four or five people in the category. I truly did not expect that to happen. It was just such a magical night.”
Audio / Jon Pardi talks about his nomination for CMA Album of the Year for his acclaimed Heartache Medication.
Jon Pardi (CMA Album of the Year nod) OC: …I can, again. :28 “Having a CMA Album of the Year nomination is amazing. Just being acknowledged by my peers and all of the people in the industry is so awesome, and we worked so hard on this record and we’re still working hard on all our albums, and it’s just awesome. And so, as I get ready to make the fourth record, this is just telling me to stay on track. So, thank you for everybody for getting me this nomination, and it’s pretty awesome. And I will try to do the best fourth record I can, again.”
Audio / BACKSTAGE AT THE CMA AWARDS, CHRIS STAPLETON SAID AWARDS MAKE HIS DREAM OF MAKING MUSIC AN EVEN BIGGER DREAM.
Chris Stapleton (realizing dream) OC: …larger dream. :15 “It’s an unimaginable, fairy-tale of a thing really, and we’re so proud just to get to just make music and go out and play it for people and make records and that’s the dream. Then when you have all of these other things that people are nice enough to give you, that makes the dream an even larger dream.”
Audio / Chris Stapleton, who is up for two awards at Wednesday night’s CMA Awards, including Male Vocalist and Music Video of the Year, says he’s always grateful for the moment of recognition.
Chris Stapleton (grateful for awards) OC: …grateful for the moment. :30 “Well I’ll take ’em home with me I guess once they send ’em Yeah I guess you have to at some point, but it still is a very… I’m thankful for it and it’s very nice and there’s a lot of great people doing a lot of great things making a lot of great music and working really hard and so when you get this kind of a thing going, I don’t think anybody deserves it. It’s a lot of luck and a lot of stars lining up so, I’m grateful for the moment.”
Audio / Backstage at last year's CMA Awards, Kacey Musgraves, who won the award for Female Vocalist, talked about celebrating women in country music.
Kacey Musgraves (CMA Female win) OC: …the beginning. :21 “I think it does mean something a little bit extra special considering there are so many women in here that paved the way for me to be able to speak my mind and do the things that I do. That being said I think that every year in country music females should be equally as celebrated, because I think the female narrative is really important and it’s been the backbone of country music since the beginning.”
Global superstar Carrie Underwood releases an original holiday song “Favorite Time of Year” today exclusively with Amazon Music. The Amazon Original song is now available to stream individually and will also appear as a bonus track on Amazon Music’s version of her debut Christmas album, My Gift. Listen to the track HERE.
Underwood and “Favorite Time of Year” will also be featured in Ring’s brand-new Doorbell Season holiday campaign airing across national TV and online. Watch the ad HERE. In addition, fans are encouraged to sing along to “Favorite Time of the Year” and capture their fun, festive videos on their Ring Video Doorbells and share them with friends and family.
The new original song was written by Underwood, Hillary Lindsey, and Chris DeStefano, and produced by My Gift album producer, Greg Wells. “‘Favorite Time of Year’ is a joyful, super happy and fun Christmas song because it is about all of the things that make you happy this time of year, and it puts you in the mood to celebrate,” said Carrie Underwood. “I can’t help but smile when I sing it, it just brightens my day and I’m thrilled to share it today only on Amazon Music.”
Carrie Underwood has also teamed up with Amazon’s “Delivering Smiles” holiday campaign, to give back to the community through the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. This is a part of a larger Delivering Smiles holiday campaign recently announced, with Amazon donating millions of items through product and monetary donations to over one thousand charities worldwide.
Carrie Underwood’s first-ever Christmas album, My Gift, debuted #1 on the Billboard Country, Christian and Holiday charts. My Gift marks the eighth straight album Carrie has debuted #1 on the Billboard Country chart. My Giftalso debuted #1 on the UK country chart (her fifth #1 on the chart) and #1 on the Canadian country chart.
Produced and arranged by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer, mixer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Greg Wells, My Gift features a combination of beloved traditional favorites celebrating the spiritual nature of the holiday, as well as several new originals. In addition to a very special appearance by Underwood’s 5-year-old son, Isaiah Fisher, on the holiday classic that inspired the album title, “Little Drummer Boy,” My Gift also features her first collaboration with Emmy, GRAMMY®, Oscar, and Tony Award-winner John Legend, on the original track, “Hallelujah,” written by Legend and Toby Gad (“All of Me”).
Additionally, HBO Max will stream an exclusive, all-new holiday special this December, with Carrie performing songs from My Gift with a live orchestra and choir. The Max Original special will be executive produced by Gary Goetzman and Tom Hanks for Playtone, along with Underwood and her manager, Ann Edelblute.
Little Big Town released the official music video for their latest single, “Wine, Beer, Whiskey,” and it looks like it couldn’t have been more fun to make. Shot at a vintage motel, the group are joined by some colorful characters. Take a look below.
Little Big Town are nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at next week’s CMA Awards, which will broadcast live from Nashville’s Music City Center Wednesday, November 11th at 8pm ET on ABC.
Travis Denning took his first-ever No. One single “After A Few” (Thursday Night Football Edition) to Nissan Stadium, opening FOX Sports’ Thursday Night Football pregamecoverage with a special performance. The Tennessee Titans lost to the Indianapolis Colts 34 – 17.
“Kicking off FOX Sports coverage of ‘Thursday Night Football’ is an absolute dream come true,” shared Travis Denning. “Since before I can even remember my dad has taken me to pro games, college games, high school games…and I’ve been in love with football my whole life. Rewriting ‘After A Few’ for this was a lot of fun too.”
A native of Warner Robins, Georgia, singer/songwriter and Mercury Nashville recording artist Travis Denning just celebrated first No. One and GOLD-certified single with the “shadowy” (Rolling Stone) “After A Few.” Accelerating his ascend from a chart-topping single, the song is taken from his recently-released debut EP BEER’S BETTER COLD that debuted in the Top 20 of Billboard’s Country Albums chart. Denning first made waves showcasing his “future star power” (Billboard) with the release of his Top 40 debut single “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs.” Denning kicked off 2020 as direct support on Dustin Lynch’s STAY COUNTRY TOUR and has previously opened shows for Cole Swindell, Alan Jackson, LANCO, Riley Green and his first headlining “Heartbeat Of A Small Town Tour.” With over 353 million streams worldwide, Denning has been spotlighted for his head-turning sound and was selected this past year as an Opry NextStage recipient and CMA KixStart Artist, as he makes his mark within the industry. Inspired at a young age, Denning developed a love for country, pop, rock and heavy metal and started playing local bars from the age of 16, as he built a strong following from his distinctive songs and raucous guitar solos. A prolific writer with an unquestionable stage presence, Denning moved to Nashville and secured outside cuts by Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, Michael Ray and more. Denning’s newest songwriting cut includes Michael Ray’s Top 20 single “Her World Or Mine.” For more information, visit travisdenning.com.
Eric Church has a new song, “Hell of a View,” that’s hit the airwaves. Written by Eric, together with Casey Beathard (“The Outsiders,” “Mr. Misunderstood”) and Monty Criswell (“Like Jesus Does”), the romantic mid-tempo track depicts a life devoted to chasing dreams over dollars alongside the ones we love. Joined by powerhouse and longtime backing vocalist Joanna Cotten, Church sings about the payoff of such a life in the song’s chorus:
“This ain’t for everybody / Toes hanging off the ledge / Like we got nothin’ to lose / Ain’t always heaven, baby / This livin’ on the edge / You holdin’ me holdin’ you / It’s a hell of a view”
This latest song was born from a sequestered session in rural North Carolina where the current CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year nominee wrote and recorded a song per day for nearly a month.
“We had a pretty good weather day and Casey Beatherd, one of the writers on the song, had been with Monty Criswell earlier. They had kind of worked on some of the song and hadn’t played it for me yet,” recalls Eric. “I went out to jog and I came back in, and Casey was kind of standing up looking out the window and I can tell he’s playing. And when I opened the door, he looked up at me and he said, ‘Don’t say anything. You’ve got to hear this. This is really good.’ He immediately started playing the first part of the song. [One] verse or so, I was hooked. I was in. I loved the way he had the line, ‘caught your wings on fire/when I smoked my Bronco tires out of town,’ and I just thought that was such a great line, and I was smitten with it at that point of time. So, we finished it that night, later that day/night and then recorded it, and it came out great. I knew it was pretty special when it went down. It was always a song that I knew was a big hit, but at the same time it has that timeless quality to it and it’s gonna be one of our biggest ones.”
The new music follows Church’s most recent critically acclaimed project, 2018’s Desperate Man, his sixth studio album which was named one of the year’s best by Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Los Angeles Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Variety and Vulture, also earning a Grammy nod for Best Country Album (his third nomination in the category).
You can catch Eric Church performing on next week’s CMA Awards, which will broadcast live from Nashville’s Music City Center Wednesday, November 11th at 8pm ET on ABC.
Audio / Eric Church talks about writing his latest single, “Hell of a View.”
Eric Church (writing HOAV) OC: …biggest ones. 1:11
“Writing ‘Hell of a View,’ we were in North Carolina. We were in the mountains, and actually that song, I’d went out for a jog one day. We had a pretty good weather day and Casey Beatherd, one of the writers on the song, had been with Monty Criswell earlier. They had kind of worked on some of the song and hadn’t played it for me yet. I went out to jog and I came back in, and Casey was kind of standing up looking out the window and I can tell he’s playing. And when I opened the door, he looked up at me and he said, ‘Don’t say anything. You’ve got to hear this. This is really good.’ He immediately started playing the first part of the song. [One] verse or so, I was hooked. I was in. I loved the way he had the line, ‘caught your wings on fire/when I smoked my Bronco tires out of town,’ and I just thought that was such a great line, and I was smitten with it at that point of time. So, we finished it that night, later that day/night and then recorded it, and it came out great. I knew it was pretty special when it went down. It was always a song that I knew was a big hit, but at the same time it has that timeless quality to it and it’s gonna be one of our biggest ones.”
