• DAVID NAIL REVEALS HE’S GOING TO BE A FATHER…TO TWINS!

    From People.com.

    In addition to his hot new single, “Night’s on Fire,” David Nail is also set to become a first-time father — to twins!

    Nail walked the red carpet at Wednesday’s CMA Awards with his leading lady, wife Catherine, on his arm. And while the couple stunned in their evening ensembles — Nail in his dapper Zegna suit and the mom-to-be in a fuchsia dress — all eyes were on Catherine’s budding baby belly.

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    Nail told PEOPLE they’re expecting both a boy and a girl and that she could give birth “any minute now but hopefully in the next four weeks.”

    “We struggled with infertility for years and really just had to stick together to get through it,” Catherine said.

    Her husband added, “Everyone tells us instincts take over and that’s what we’re hoping.”
    Nail — who’s currently out on the Southern Style Tour with Darius Rucker — and Catherine wed in 2009.

    Video / David & Katherine on CMA Red Carpet with People

  • CMA AWARDS 2015: Stapleton, Luke, Keith, Church, LBT

    Chris Stapleton was the big winner during Wednesday night’s CMA Awards, as he swept all three awards in which he was nominated. He was named Male Vocalist and New Artist of the Year, while his album, Traveller, was named Album of the Year. Chris also received a second trophy as a producer for the project, which he co-produced with Dave Cobb. This marks the first time a New Artist winner also won for Album of the Year and are his first CMA Awards. Chris also had THE performance of the evening with his collaboration with pop superstar Justin Timberlake on the mashup of “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Drink You Away.”

    Of the wins, Chris said, “It’s surreal. Very unbelievable. I don’t have enough kind of adjectives to get there, but it’s a wonderful feeling. It’s a lot of love. I feel a lot of love. I feel very loved. It’s a short answer, but it’s a real one.”

    Luke Bryan, who performed his recent two-week No. 1 hit “Strip It Down,” picked up his second consecutive award for Entertainer of the Year. “I don’t think I’ve ever sang or performed better on the road than this year,” said Luke. “I’ve really enjoyed every night, and for this to happen tonight is such a blessing.”

    Keith Urban and Eric Church picked up the award for Musical Event of the Year for “Raise ‘Em Up.” The win marks Keith’s fourth trophy in the category, tying him with Vince Gill, Tim McGraw and Brad Paisley as top winners. He’s also the only artist to win three years in a row.

    Little Big Town picked up a couple of awards including their fourth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. Their smash hit, “Girl Crush,” was named Single and Song of the Year. Songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose are first-time winners for penning the song. “We knew when we heard this song that it was incredibly special. It literally took my breath. I gasped when I realized what the song was actually about,” said LBT’s Kimberly Schlapman. “These three women poured their heart and soul into an incredibly special, once-in-a-lifetime song, and the fact that we were able to cut it is an incredible special. We’ll always be thankful to them for letting us do it.”

    Audio / Backstage at this year’s CMA Awards, Chris Stapleton had a hard time putting into words what all of his CMA wins means to him.

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    Chris Stapleton (feeling of being embraced) OC: …a real one, you know? :17
    “It’s surreal. Very unbelievable. I don’t have enough kind of adjectives to get there, but it’s a wonderful feeling. It’s a lot of love. I feel a lot of love. I feel very loved. It’s a short answer, but it’s a real one, you know.”

    Audio / Backstage at Wednesday night’s CMA Awards, Chris Stapleton talks about performing with Justin Timberlake, in what turned out to be THE performance of the night.

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    Chris Stapleton (performing with JT) OC: …crazy thing, man. :24
    “All those guys and my guys too brought it. They’re all pros and then some. It elevates you  in a way that maybe it cannot happen on your own – all those guys and my wife and my bass player, JT Cure, on the bass over there. I’ve played music with him for 20 years almost. To get to do this tonight in a way we did it, it’s a crazy thing, man.”

    Audio / Backstage at this year’s CMA Awards, Luke Bryan talks about winning his second consecutive CMA Entertainer of the Year award.

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    Luke Bryan (winning CMA entertainer) OC: …amazing. :40
    “I got to tell you, it just felt unsurmountable this year a little more, and it’s just been an amazing year for me on the road. It’s been the most enjoyable year on the road. From A to Z, I don’t think I’ve ever sang or performed better on the road than this year. I’ve really enjoyed every night, and for this to happen tonight is such a blessing. That’s all you can say. When it’s the CMA, in the hands of the CMA voters, people that come out and they pay attention to what you’re doing and for them to do this for me is truly amazing.”

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman talks about being able to record a once-in-a-lifetime song with “Girl Crush.”

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    Little Big Town (cutting Girl Crush) OC: …us do it. (laughs) :25
    “We knew when we heard this song that it was incredibly special. It literally took my breath. I gasped when I realized what the song was actually about. These three women poured their heart and soul into an incredibly special, once-in-a-lifetime song, and the fact that we were able to cut it is an incredible special. We’ll always be thankful to them for letting us do it.” (laughs)

  • LITTLE BIG TOWN PICK UP SEVERAL CMA AWARDS.

    Little Big Town has scored a handful of awards at tonight’s CMA Awards, for Vocal Group and for their recent smash, “Girl Crush,” which took home Single and Song of the Year.

    “It’s taking a phrase that you’ve heard so many times, and just the way it turns at the hook, it just catches you,” says Jimi Westbrook. “It gives me chills every time I listen to it, when that hook turns like it does. It’s just brilliant. I think it’s a brilliant song, and [Karen’s] vocal is perfection. It’s so good. The emotion of that song comes through.”

    The group are currently making their way up the charts with their latest single, the title track from their album, Pain Killer.

    Audio / Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook talks about the song, “Girl Crush.”

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    LBT (Girl Crush) OC: …more special. :44
    “I think ‘Girl Crush’ is one of the most brilliant lyrics I’ve heard in such a long time. It’s taking a phrase that you’ve heard so many times, and just the way it turns at the hook, it just catches you. It gives me chills every time I listen to it, when that hook turns like it does. It’s just brilliant. I think it’s a brilliant song, and [Karen’s] vocal is perfection. It’s so good. The emotion of that song comes through. I love it. I love the sparseness of the track. I think it’s empty in the right places, and the nice little subtle things that come in to support and the organ and all that…Jay [Joyce] killed that track and made it even more special.”

  • CHRIS STAPLETON STEALS THE SHOW WITH AWARDS AND A PERFORMANCE.

    Chris Stapleton has already earned a pair of CMA awards – New Artist and Album of the Year for his debut, Traveller. He also had the biggest and most talked about performance all night – his collaboration with one of today’s hottest artists, Justin Timberlake. The pair traded vocals and licks on Chris’ “Tennessee Whiskey” before launching into the pop star’s country-blues song, “Drink You Away.”

    The album, Traveller, was a labor of love and reflection for the singer-songwriter and powerhouse vocalist. “It seemed like a natural thing to call it, because a lot of, certainly the inspiration for this record came from a series of events,” says Chris. “It can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. It’s about a journey in a musical sense and in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense. In every way that you can have a journey, this record is kind of that for me, and hopefully for some other folks too.”

    He just released his brand new single, “Nobody to Blame,” from his CMA Award-winning album.

    Audio / Chris Stapleton explains why he named his album Traveller.

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    Chris Stapleton (title of Traveller) OC: …folks too. :43
    “The song ‘Traveller’ and how it ended up being the title of the record, it seemed like a natural thing to call it, because a lot of, certainly the inspiration for this record came from a series of events. It’s kind of the only song that was written inside of, well, there might’ve been one other song written inside of knowing I was going to make this record in this way. The rest of the songs came from outside of that time period. So, that’s one reason to name it that. The other reason is that it can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. It’s about a journey in a musical sense and in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense. In every way that you can have a journey, this record is kind of that for me, and hopefully for some other folks too.”

  • KEITH URBAN AND ERIC CHURCH WIN THE CMA AWARD FOR MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR.

    Keith Urban and Eric Church picked up an early CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year for “Raise ‘Em Up.” This is Keith’s fourth win in the category. Previous wins include “Start A Band” with Brad Paisley (2009); “Highway Don’t Care” with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift (2013); and We Were Us” with Miranda Lambert (2014). This win ties him with Vince Gill, McGraw, and Paisley for the most wins in the category. Urban is the only artist to win three years in a row.

    “I’ve been real fortunate to get to collaborate with some great artists, but doing this song with Eric was truly magical,” said Urban. “It’s an incredible piece of songwriting, and we’re both so grateful it’s resonated the way it has! Big shout out to our fans and to Country radio and TV for all the support we’ve had along the way!”

    One of the top nominees in 2015, this is Church’s second CMA Award – his first was for Album of the Year for Chief in 2012. His nominations include Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Single of the Year for “Talladega,” and Song of the Year for “Like A Wrecking Ball,” which he co-wrote with Casey Beathard.

    Audio / Keith Urban says “Raise ‘Em Up” was a perfect duet for him and Eric Church.

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    Keith Urban (Raise ‘Em Up-Church) 2 OC: …new place. 1:04
    “It’s not a duet, but it hit me that this might be a good song for us to do as a duet because it’s an extraordinary song to begin with. When I got sent it, it got sent under the heading of ‘Song of the Year,’ and I thought, well that’s a tall order for a song. Then I saw the writers Jeffery Steele, Tom Douglas, and Jaren Johnston, and I went, ‘Okay we’ve got some pretty stout writers on this song.’ The lyric is just absolutely extraordinary, and all the things ‘Raise Em-Up’ can apply to. I felt this song was such a journey and a deeply American aspect to this song too, particularly in the second verse. And what ‘Raise Em-Up’ can mean, all the various things that that phrase can mean; it’s such a cinematic song, and I’ve always considered Eric as a cinematic artist, and I sent him the song and he was in the studio immediately. I am so glad he wanted to be a part of it because it took the song to a new place.”

  • NEWS AND NOTES: Luke, Karen, Sam

    Luke Bryan and Little Big Town‘s Karen Fairchild will perform the world premiere of Luke’s new single “Home Alone Tonight” at the 2015 American Music Awards. Luke and Karen join previously announced performers Carrie Underwood, 5 Seconds of Summer, Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez. Luke is nominated for the all-genre Artist of the Year and the Favorite Male Country Artist, while LBT is up for Favorite Country Duo or Group . The 2015 American Music Awards will be broadcast live on November 22nd at 8pm ET on ABC.

    Sam Hunt picked up a pair of awards at Monday night’s ASCAP Awards. He was named Songwriter/Artist of the Year, and also nabbed Song of the Year for his No. 1 debut hit “Leave the Night On.”

  • CMA AWARDS 2015: Keith Urban

    Keith Urban is up for Vocal Event of the Year for his collaboration on “Raise ‘Em Up” with Eric Church.

    Keith says the song didn’t start out as a duet. “The lyric is just absolutely extraordinary, and all the things ‘Raise Em-Up’ can apply to,” he says. “I felt this song was such a journey and a deeply American aspect to this song too, particularly in the second verse. And what ‘Raise Em-Up’ can mean, all the various things that that phrase can mean; it’s such a cinematic song, and I’ve always considered Eric as a cinematic artist, and I sent him the song and he was in the studio immediately. I am so glad he wanted to be a part of it because it took the song to a new place.”

    Keith is set to duet with John Mellencamp on Wednesday night’s CMA Awards, which will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday (November 4th) at 8pm ET on ABC.

    Audio / Keith Urban talks about the song "Raise 'Em Up," featuring pal Eric Church.

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    Keith Urban (Raise ‘Em Up-Church) 2 OC: …new place. 1:04
    “It’s not a duet, but it hit me that this might be a good song for us to do as a duet because it’s an extraordinary song to begin with. When I got sent it, it got sent under the heading of ‘Song of the Year,’ and I thought, well that’s a tall order for a song. Then I saw the writers Jeffery Steele, Tom Douglas, and Jaren Johnston, and I went, ‘Okay we’ve got some pretty stout writers on this song.’ The lyric is just absolutely extraordinary, and all the things ‘Raise Em-Up’ can apply to. I felt this song was such a journey and a deeply American aspect to this song too, particularly in the second verse. And what ‘Raise Em-Up’ can mean, all the various things that that phrase can mean; it’s such a cinematic song, and I’ve always considered Eric as a cinematic artist, and I sent him the song and he was in the studio immediately. I am so glad he wanted to be a part of it because it took the song to a new place.”

  • CMA AWARDS 2015: Kacey Musgraves

    Kacey Musgraves scored three CMA nominations, including Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for Pageant Material and Music Video of the Year for “Biscuits.”

    The Texas native says all of her songs begin with her. “, I just feel like just because there’s more eyes and ears now listening out there that know who I am and are listening and watching or whatever, I don’t think it should change, I don’t want it to change what I think is good,” says Kacey. “Because the truth is that these songs selfishly start to make me happy because I really love how songs make me feel when I write them and taking things I’ve gone through and putting them in songs. So, it starts with me, and if other people like it, that’s awesome.”

    The 49th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday (November 4th) at 8pm ET on ABC.

    Audio / Kacey Musgraves says all songs start with her, especially for her second album, Pageant Material.

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    Kacey Musgraves (songs start with her) OC: …that’s awesome. :32
    “The second time around, it’s interesting. There’s not as much time involved, that’s one thing that’s a little difficult. But two, I just feel like just because there’s more eyes and ears now listening out there that know who I am and are listening and watching or whatever, I don’t think it should change, I don’t want it to change what I think is good. Because the truth is that these songs selfishly start to make me happy because I really love how songs make me feel when I write them and taking things I’ve gone through and putting them in songs. So, it starts with me, and if other people like it, that’s awesome.”

  • CMA AWARDS 2015: Luke Bryan

    Luke Bryan, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, has a pair of CMA nominations, including Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year. He says it’s just an honor to be in the running.

    “At the end of the day, all you can want to be is in the game and have some nominations and be in the hunt,” says the Georgia native. “At the end of the day, whoever wins, it’ll be an awesome night. If we win, it’ll be a big day. It’ll be an amazing night for me and we’ll have the time of our lives and kind of go from there. But, for me, it’s always enjoying this and celebrating nominations.”

    The 49th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday (November 4th) at 8pm ET on ABC.

    Audio / Luke Bryan talks about having CMA nominations.

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    Luke Bryan (CMA Nominations) OC: …nominations. :21
    “At the end of the day, all you can want to be is in the game and have some nominations and be in the hunt. At the end of the day, whoever wins, it’ll be an awesome night. If we win, it’ll be a big day. It’ll be an amazing night for me and we’ll have the time of our lives and kind of go from there. But, for me, it’s always enjoying this and celebrating nominations.”

  • CMA AWARDS 2015: Lady Antebellum

    Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley is just happy to be nominated in the Vocal Group of the Year category at this year’s CMA Awards. He says that he’ll never take a nomination for granted.

    “There’s always going to be a new crop of groups and musicians…and there should be. That’s what the music business is about. That’s what fans want. I mean, I always want something new. I’m always craving it, and so hopefully all this stuff kind of as groups and as artists helps motivate you to be creative and come up with something unique and different,” says Charles. “So we never take it for granted because there will be a time when we won’t be in those categories and you know, so, you’re still in the game, you’re still playing on a pretty high level and so that means a lot.”

    Charles, who will present an award at the CMA Awards, is currently making his way up the country charts with his debut solo single, “The Driver.”

    The 49th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Wednesday (November 4th) at 8pm ET on ABC.

    Audio / Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley said he and his bandmates will never take an awards nomination for granted.

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    Lady Antebellum (Charles happy to be nominated) OC: …means a lot. :31

    “Yeah, yeah, for sure.  I mean you can’t take that for granted. There’s always going to be a new crop of groups and musicians that … and there should be. That’s what the music business is about. That’s what fans want.  I mean, I always want something new.  I’m always craving it, and so hopefully all this stuff kind of as groups and as artists helps motivate you to be creative and come up with something unique and different. So we never take it for granted because there will be a time when we won’t be in those categories and you know, so, you’re still in the game; you’re still playing on a pretty high level and so that means a lot.