CMAs
It’s Time for the Country Music Association to Show Not Tell (Guest Column)
Like most things in American culture, country music actually has strong Black American influences. Instruments such as fiddles and harmonicas can be traced back to Black communities in the antebellum South. Additionally, the banjo, a staple in country music, originated in West Africa. The history of the Black cowboy has effectively served as a staple symbol of the country music industry and culture. However, the genre has been whitewashed and appropriated thanks to gatekeepers like the Country Music Association. Black people have been systematically excluded from country music to the point where they are often berated and persecuted for even participating in the industry. From experiences with fans to the music labels, Black country artists recount being called rac...
Taylor Swift, BTS, Missy Elliott, Lady Gaga, T.J. Osborne & More of the Week’s Biggest Winners (Nov. 12)
Take a look at Billboard‘s weekly roundup and the “awards” it’s giving to this week’s headlines. Reddest Music News: Taylor Swift releases Red (Taylor’s Version) The album Swifties know all too well is the gift that keeps on giving. Taylor Swift finally released the re-recorded and expanded version of her 2012 album Red (Taylor’s Version) on Friday (Nov. 12), totaling 30 tracks. She’ll also slated to perform on Saturday Night Live again on Saturday, Nov. 13. Listen to Red (Taylor’s Version) here, and watch her accompanying All Too Well short film here. Smoothest Music News: BTS will perform “Butter” remix with Megan Thee Stallion at 2021 AMAs The American Music Awards announced on...
2021 CMAs: Best Moments You Didn’t See on TV
Additionally, Luke Bryan marked his first time as host of the CMA Awards, welcoming several of his fellow artists to join him during several moments throughout the show. Besides Combs, Chris Stapleton was the evening’s biggest winner, taking home honors in four categories, including album of the year (Starting Over), male vocalist of the year, and single and song of the year (both for “Starting Over”). But even with all of the special moments happening onstage during the ABC broadcast, several artists reflected on their big night to reporters in attendance during the annual CMA Awards press conference, which was held virtually this year. Luke Bryan on Taking Inspiration From Elvis For Upcoming Las Vegas Residency: “I grew up listening to Elvis’s Vegas album and I always said one day I’d li...
Blake Shelton Offers Fiery Live Debut of ‘Come Back As a Country Boy’ at 2021 CMA Awards
Dressed in all black, Shelton made sure that his darker theme got across to the crowd, with faux lightning crashing in the background and during the song’s riled-up guitar solo. “When I die, I wanna come back as a country boy,” he sang in front of a weathered fence. “No, there ain’t no better life if you ask me.” The performance came just hours after Shelton officially unveiled his new music video for the single (written by “God’s Country” co-writers Michael Hardy and Jordan Schmidt), in which Shelton makes his declared wish a reality — as a meteor comes crashing to the earth, the country star emerges in flames, back to his life as the titular country boy. Shelton wasn’t the only one at the 2021 CMA Awards to deliver some memorabl...
Jimmie Allen Tearfully Accepts New Artist of the Year Award at 2021 CMAs
The singer recalled living in his car as he launched his country career. Jimmie Allen took home the new artist of the year award at the CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 10) — making him the first Black artist to win the honor since Darius Rucker in 2009. Allen was overcome with emotion when his name was announced, and he launched into a touching speech that saw him tearfully reflecting on his humble beginnings that led to where he is in his career today. “First, I want to thank my father who is no longer with us for introducing me to country music,” the 36-year-old started his speech. “Five years ago, I spent my last $100 to see the CMA 50th and see Charley Pride perform onstage. And I got to perform with him last year. Everyone who voted for me, thank you. My wi...
Mickey Guyton Teaches Black Girls Everywhere How to ‘Love My Hair’ During Potent 2021 CMAs Performance
Mickey Guyton embraced her natural hair for an emotional performance of “Love My Hair” at the 2021 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards Wednesday evening (Nov. 10) live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Faith Fennidy, who was removed from her Catholic school at age 11 for wearing braids, presented the performance by opening up about how she personally inspired the song “Love My Hair.” “A few years ago, I was sent home from school because my braids were said to be a distraction. It was devastating for me. But this next artist created this song to make sure girls like me feel seen and loved,” she said before pausing in the midst of roaring applause. “And that’s how you turn something very painful into something very positive. Wit...
Chris Stapleton Brings On the Chills With ‘Cold’ Performance at 2021 CMA Awards: Watch
The country superstar was backed by a string orchestra as he sang his bluesy single. Donning a dark suit and an embellished cowboy hat, Stapleton and his band were framed by spotlights that lit up their audience during the performance. “Cold” is the third single from Stapleton’s 2020 LP Starting Over, which is his fourth album to reach No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. In addition to the previously mentioned awards, Stapleton is still in the running for entertainer of the year and male vocalist of the year. Stapleton was first awarded at the CMA Awards in 2015 with album of the year for Traveller, male vocalist of the year and new artist of the year. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a datin...
Man of Steel: Will Paul Franklin’s 30th CMA Nomination Translate To His First Win?
“I gave up on winning,” he says candidly. But there’s no malice or self-pity in his response. At age 67, he’s still a first-call studio musician, playing on such recent hits as Thomas Rhett’s “Country Again,” Kane Brown’s “Homesick,” Brett Young’s “Catch” and Justin Moore’s “Why We Drink.” When Franklin listens to country radio, he rarely goes an hour without hearing himself, and that confirmation of his daily successes in the studio trenches outstrips the once-a-year status as an also-ran. “Everybody that gets nominated wants to win, of course,” he says. “But I can’t believe at my age that I’m still being nominated. That’s flattering.” Franklin’s absence from the winner’s circle may have something to ...
Miranda Lambert Jumps to No. 3 on List of All-Time CMA Awards Nominees: Who Else Is in the Top 10?
First nod: 1983 Most recent nod: 2014 Number of awards: 17 Did you know?: Hard to imagine, but Strait didn’t win the horizon award, the former name for new artist of the year. He was nominated in 1983, but lost to John Anderson. In addition to being the overall nominations leader, Strait is also the leader in several individual categories, including male vocalist of the year (25 nods), entertainer of the year (19), album of the year (19) and single of the year (nine). 2. Alan Jackson, 81 First nod: 1990 Most recent nod: 2012 Number of awards: 16 Did you know?: Jackson didn’t win the horizon award either. He was nominated in 1990, but lost to Garth Brooks. (Pretty stiff competition.) 3. Miranda Lambert, 58 (not counting two with Pistol Annies) First nod: 2005 Most recent nod: 2021 Number of...
The Judds Are Just the 4th Act to Go From Winning CMA Horizon Award to Country Music Hall of Fame
Garth Brooks: The superstar who took country to a whole new level won the horizon award in 1990 and was voted into the Hall in 2012—just 22 years later. It really can’t be done much faster than that. He beat Alan Jackson, Kentucky Headhunters, Lorrie Morgan and Travis Tritt for the horizon award. (Tritt nabbed the horizon award the following year. CMA rules allow artists two tries at the award.) Randy Travis: The country and gospel singer won the horizon award in 1986 and was voted into the Hall in 2016—30 years later. He beat the Forester Sisters, Kathy Mattea, Dan Seals and Dwight Yoakam for the horizon award. Ricky Skaggs: The country and bluegrass musician won the horizon award in 1982 and was voted into the Hall in 2018—36 years later. He beat John Anderson, Rosanne Cash, David Frizze...
As Voting Opens for 2021 CMA Awards Nominations, Here Are the Races We’re Watching
The CMA has announced that it will allow Morgan Wallen, who is under a cloud because of his videotaped use of the N-word in January, to compete in categories in which there are other collaborators on the project, such as album of the year, but not in individual categories, such as male vocalist of the year. It will be interesting to see if CMA voters nominate Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album for album of the year. The blockbuster is in its 22nd week at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. Long-running No. 1 albums are usually nominated in this category. Of the 27 previous albums that have topped the country chart for 20 or more weeks, 20 have been nominated in this category. The most recent album to hit that mark before Wallen’s album, Luke Combs’ What You See Is What Y...
8 Can’t-Miss Moments From the 2020 CMA Awards
The CMAs instituted a strict COVID-19 protocol complete with rigorous testing. Even given the latest surge, it was still a surprise that prior to the show’s kick off Lee Brice, Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, fiddle player Jenee Fleenor and the members of Lady A had all pulled out of their performances because they or someone in their family had tested positive. During the show, Rascal Flatts posted that they too were absent because an unspecified band member had tested positive. Hopefully the safeguards the CMAs put in place will mean we’re not hearing about more positive results over the next week or so given the largely unmasked audience. Despite the big-name absences, the show still provided several top-notch appearances that reinforced that most country artists don’t need bells ...
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