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CMT Awards Rescheduled for Oct. 14

Posted on April 3, 2020

The 2020 CMT Music Awards—originally slated for June 3—will now take place on October 14.

CMT released a statement on April 3: “Our top priority this last month has been rebuilding our hometown of Nashville following the tornado and ensuring the safety of our fans, employees, artists and partners during the COVID-19 crisis. As we look forward to celebrating country music’s biggest stars together with our community and viewers, we will continue to follow the guidance of the CDC and local public health officials.”

The fan-voted CMT Awards hand out annual awards in a number of categories, including Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year, Breakthrough Video of the Year and more.

Last year, the show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena included performances by Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Boyz II Men, Brandi Carlile, Brett Young, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Luke Combs and more.

photos by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

TV Special “ACM Presents: Our Country” Announces 25-Song Performance List & Facebook Pre-Show

Posted on April 3, 2020

The Academy of Country Music announced the 25-song list for its two-hour TV special, ACM Presents: Our Country, which will air live on April 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Performers include Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown and John Legend, Luke Bryan, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Old Dominion, Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker will honor Kenny Rogers, who passed away on March 20.

The two-hour special, which will be hosted by Gayle King, will feature conversations and at-home acoustic performances, along with clips of their favorite moments from the ACM Awards 55-year history. Artists will appear from their homes via video chat to share their thoughts and perform acoustic songs. Additionally, video clips from previous ACM Award broadcasts will allow viewers to reminisce with them about their favorite ACM moments.

The ACM Awards were originally planned to air from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 5. The Academy scrapped the plan on March 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ACM Awards have been rescheduled for Sept. 16.

In addition, fans are invited to enjoy more performances during the pre-show on the Academy of Country Music’s Facebook page on April 5 at 7 p.m. CT. Lauren Alaina, Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Lee Brice, Blanco Brown, Lindsay Ell, Riley Green, Mickey Guyton, Caylee Hammack, Ashley McBryde, Jake Owen, Carly Pearce, Tenille Townes and more will appear from their homes to share heartfelt messages with their fans and perform acoustic versions of their hits. The pre-show will also pay tribute to 6-time ACM Award nominee Joe Diffie, who died on March 29, with a special performance by Chris Young.

ACM Presents: Our Country performances will include:

Kelsea Ballerini – “homecoming queen?”
Dierks Bentley – “I Hold On”
Kane Brown & John Legend – “Last Time I Say Sorry”
Luke Bryan – “Most People Are Good”
Brandi Carlile – “The Joke”
Eric Church – “Never Break Heart”
Luke Combs – “Beautiful Crazy”
Sheryl Crow – “I Shall Believe”
Florida Georgia Line – “Blessings”
Lady Antebellum – “What I’m Leaving For”
Miranda Lambert – “Bluebird”
Little Big Town – “Next To You”
Tim McGraw – “Humble And Kind”
Old Dominion (Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen) – “Some People Do”
Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker – “Mud On The Tires” & “Wagon Wheel”
Thomas Rhett – “Be A Light”
Blake Shelton & Gwen Stefani – “Nobody But You”
Shania Twain – “Honey, I’m Home” & “Man! I Feel Like a Woman”
Carrie Underwood – “Drinking Alone”
Keith Urban – “Wasted Time”
Kenny Rogers Tribute – featuring Brad Paisley & Darius Rucker performing “Lucille” & “The Gambler” and Luke Bryan performing “Coward Of The County”

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Loretta Lynn Records New Cover of Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces” [Listen]

Posted on April 3, 2020

Loretta Lynn released a newly recorded cover of Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces” on April 3.

Written by Hank Cochran and Harlan Howard, “I Fall to Pieces” was Patsy’s first No. 1 hit on the country charts in 1961. Before her death in a plane crash in 1963, Patsy was an established star who took up-and-comer Loretta under her wing to help her navigate the male-dominated world of country music.

Loretta’s new recording was released in celebration of the upcoming book, Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust (April 7), which was penned by Loretta and daughter Patsy Lynn Russell. According to a press release, the book is an “up-close-and-personal portrait of a friendship that defined a generation and changed country music indelibly–and a meditation on love, loss and legacy.”

Listen to Loretta’s new version of “I Fall to Pieces” below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

John Prine Battles COVID-19 & Pneumonia in Hospital ICU: “He Is Very Ill”

Posted on April 3, 2020

John Prine’s wife, Fiona, provided an update on her husband’s condition via Instagram on April 2.

Fiona confirmed that John, 73, has been diagnosed with COVID-19, as well as pneumonia in both lungs. John has been in the hospital since March 26 and using a ventilator since March 28.

“He is very ill and yet I remain hopeful that he can continue to fight this devastating virus and come home where we can care for him,” said Fiona, in part.

Fiona’s complete statement is below.

“This is John’s 8th day in ICU . He is receiving excellent medical care and being treated with kindness and compassion by the entire team looking after him day and night.I cannot be with him which makes this nightmare all the more distressing for me. As you know, John was put on a ventilator last Saturday. He still needs quite a bit of help with his breathing. Like many patients currently in ICU beds all around the world, John has pneumonia in both lungs. He has also developed some peripheral issues that are being treated with meds, including antibiotics. He is very ill and yet I remain hopeful that he can continue to fight this devastating virus and come home where we can care for him. I don’t have the words to adequately Thank You all for the outpouring of love and prayers that John and our family has received this last week. It means the world to us to have your love and support at this difficult time. On behalf of me and our boys—Jody, Jack and Tommy—please know that we are keeping you all in our hearts with a prayer that you stay safe and healthy. Please continue to send Love, Prayers and Positive Energy to John. He needs us now more than ever. John loves you and I love you too.”

John is a two-time Grammy winner, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member, PEN New England Lyrics Award recipient, and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee. John was a recipient of the Recording Academy’s 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. John’s catalog includes iconic songs “Sam Stone,” “Angel From Montgomery,” “Paradise,” “Hello In There,” “Illegal Smile,” “That’s The Way The World Goes ‘Round,” “Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness,” “In Spite of Ourselves,” “I Just Want To Dance With You” and more.

John’s songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band and many others.

photo by Steven Bergman, AFF-USA.com

April 3: Live-Stream Show Calendar With Brad Paisley, Brantley Gilbert, Chase Rice & More

Posted on April 3, 2020

Country stars are trying to do their part to keep us entertained during our self-quarantines (hopefully) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s a rundown of what to expect as some of our favorite stars perform live and chat via social medial.

April 3 (updated throughout the day)

Stephanie Quayle: 10 a.m. CT – Facebook
Seaforth: 3 p.m. CT – Instagram
Ty Bentli Show Happy Hour with Jimmie Allen: 5 p.m CT – Instagram
Michael Ray: 6 p.m. CT – Instagram
Chase Rice: 6 p.m. CT – Facebook & Instagram
Niko Moon: 7 p.m. CT – Facebook & Instagram
Tucker Beathard: 7:30 p.m. CT – Facebook & Instagram
Ashley McBryde: 7:30 p.m. CT – YouTube
Brad Paisley: 8 p.m. CT – Facebook & Instagram
Brantley Gilbert with Colt Ford: 8 p.m. CT – Instagram

photos: Brad Paisley by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com; Brantley Gilbert by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Keith Urban Drops Illuminating New Video for “God Whispered Your Name” [Watch]

Posted on April 2, 2020

Keith Urban released a new video for his single, “God Whispered Your Name.” Penned by James Slater, Shy Carter, Micah Carter and Chris August, “God Whispered Your Name” is Keith’s first new music in 2020.

The new video juxtaposes Keith in the isolation of a dark room (warehouse in Nashville) with the expansiveness of performing atop a boulder on mountainous terrain (outside Lancaster, Calif.).

“I wanted to first try and capture a sense of isolation, a lonely, dark place, that transitions into light a bit more as the video progresses, which for me is how I found my own world opening up as I went along my journey,” says Keith. “That dark and lonely place, was underneath a warehouse in Nashville, literally the darkest, dank and smelly place. We spent the whole morning there shooting everything that you now see in the first part of the video.”

The second part of the almost-four-minute clip finds Keith jamming atop a boulder, which had some inherent risks.

“Playing guitar atop a boulder is definitely not a great idea,” adds Keith “You just kinda lose yourself in what you’re doing, and every minute or two you realize what you’re doing, and you think, ‘I better not fall off this big ass boulder!’ For me, a good music video takes the song to another level. It maybe gives the song a bit more dimension, and hopefully we’ve done that with this one.”

Watch the video for “God Whispered Your Name” below.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

VIDEO: Josh Ward & Eric Cain talk Vols Football recruiting and more

Posted on April 2, 2020

The Sports Animal’s Josh Ward or Sport180 and Eric Cain of TSL caught up today via zoom to discuss some Tennessee football notes.

Josh and Cainer broke down the Vols’ two commits this week in Jaylen Wright and Walker Merrill and went over the challenges moving forward after missing spring practice.

Enjoy. More to come from these two throughout the pause in sports.

Josh Ward & Eric Cain / Credit: The Sports Animal staff photos

VIDEO: Josh Ward & Eric Cain talk Vols Football recruiting and more

Posted on April 2, 2020

The Sports Animal’s Josh Ward or Sport180 and Eric Cain of TSL caught up today via zoom to discuss some Tennessee football notes.

Josh and Cainer broke down the Vols’ two commits this week in Jaylen Wright and Walker Merrill and went over the challenges moving forward after missing spring practice.

Enjoy. More to come from these two throughout the pause in sports.

Dolly Parton to Launch 10-Week “Goodnight With Dolly” Book-Reading Video Series on April 2

Posted on April 2, 2020

Dolly Parton will launch her 10-week Goodnight With Dolly book-reading video series via YouTube on April 2.

Goodnight with Dolly features the country music icon reading select books from her Imagination Library. Dolly will kick off the weekly series on April 2 by reading “The Little Engine That Could.”

Dolly hopes the new series will provide comfort and reassurance to kids and families during the shelter-in-place mandates. Since its beginning in 1996 in Dolly’s hometown of Sevierville, Tenn., the Imagination Library has expanded into four countries serving more than 1 million children by providing a brand-new, age-appropriate book each month.

Tune in to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library via YouTube at 6 p.m. CT on April 2.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

WBCA Honorable Mention for Davis

Posted on April 2, 2020

WBCA All-America Team

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced its NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Team on Thursday, and the University of Tennessee’s Rennia Davis is among those earning honorable mention accolades.

Davis garnered WBCA All-America Honorable Mention for the second year in a row and picked up her third national postseason recognition of 2020. She had previously received honorable mention nods from Associated Press (AP) and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

A 6-foot-2 junior forward from Jacksonville, Fla., Davis was the Lady Vols’ only active returning starter for the bulk of the 2019-20 campaign. She helped Tennessee tie for third in the SEC with a 10-6 record after being picked seventh and finish 21-10 overall after the Lady Vols wound up 19-13/7-9 (8th) a year ago. She finished third in the SEC at 18.0 ppg., which is the highest scoring average by a Lady Vol since Candace Parker in 2008 (21.3). Davis also was fifth in the SEC at 8.2 rpg., which is the seventh-best rebounding average ever by a Lady Vol junior.

Davis connected on 46.9 percent of her attempts from the field and 80.2 percent from the free throw line, and she tallied a team-leading 34 three-pointers this season. Additionally, Davis was second on the team in steals (28) and third in assists (74).

Against nine ranked opponents, Davis put up 19.8 ppg. and 7.0 rpg. and shot 43.8% on field goals and 84.2% on free throws vs. those teams. She averaged 19.9 ppg. and 8.0 rpg. vs. SEC foes while hitting 49.6% from the field and 82.8% at the charity stripe in 16 regular-season contests.

Additionally, Davis scored in double figures in 28 straight games and posted 11 double-doubles, which tied for seventh all-time by a UT junior. She is knotted at 10th in Tennessee history with 29 career double-doubles in 94 games. The three-year letterwinner also amassed 25 games of 15+ points and tallied 20+ points six times as a junior, including a pair of 30+ efforts.

Among other honors in 2019-20, Davis made the Cheryl Miller Award Top 10, the John R. Wooden Top 20 and was a three-time SEC Player of the Week and a USBWA National Player of the Week on one occasion.

UT Athletics