Breakdown–ACM Awards Nominations: Dan Smyers (6), Shay Mooney (5), Maren Morris (5), Thomas Rhett (5) & More

Breakdown–ACM Awards Nominations: Dan Smyers (6), Shay Mooney (5), Maren Morris (5), Thomas Rhett (5) & More

Top Artist Nominees: Fast Facts

  • Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, 6 nominations
  • Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen and Brad Tursi of Old Dominion, 6 nominations
  • Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay, 5 nominations
  • Maren Morris, 5 nominations
  • Thomas Rhett, 5 nominations,
  • Dann Huff, 5 nominations
  • Geoff Sprung & Whit Sellers of Old Dominion, 5 nominations
  • Justin Bieber, 4 nominations
  • Blake Shelton, 4 nominations
  • Eric Church, 3 nominations
  • Luke Combs, 3 nominations
  • Miranda Lambert, 3 nominations
  • Ashley McBryde, 3 nominations
  • Kacey Musgraves, 3 nominations

ACM Awards Nominees: Notes From the Academy

  • Maren Morris earned five nominations in four categories, including her fourth Female Artist of the Year nomination and first Group of the Year nomination as a member of The Highwomen. She is also nominated in the Album of the Year category twice, as both artist and producer, for GIRL. Additionally, Morris is nominated for Music Event of the Year for “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” with Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and Elle King.
  • Reigning Male Artist of the Year Thomas Rhett received five nominations in four categories, including his first-ever Entertainer of the Year nomination. Rhett is also nominated twice, as both artist and producer, for his album Center Point Road in the Album of the Year category. Additionally, he received his first Video of the Year nomination for “Remember You Young,” and his fourth Male Artist of the Year nomination.
  • Producer Dann Huff received five nominations, including a nod for Album of the Year with Thomas Rhett as a producer for Center Point Road. He is also nominated for Music Event of the Year as a producer for “What Happens in a Small Town” with Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell, and Single of the Year as a producer for “What If I Never Get Over You” with Lady Antebellum. Huff also received two nominations across the Studio Recording Award categories, including Guitar Player of the Year and Producer of the Year, an award he won previously in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
  • Reigning Duo of the Year Dan + Shay earned four nominations, including their seventh nod for Duo of the Year. They received nominations in the Video of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and Song of the Year categories for “10,000 Hours.” Shay Mooney received his first individual nomination as a songwriter in the Song of the Year category for “10,000 Hours.” Additionally, Dan Smyers received two individual nominations as a songwriter in the Song of the Year category and as a producer in the Music Event of the Year category for “10,000 Hours.”
  • First-time Academy of Country Music Award nominee Justin Bieber earned four nominations for “10,000 Hours” (featuring Dan + Shay). Bieber is nominated for Music Event of the Year, Video of the Year, and twice, as both artist and songwriter, for Song of the Year.
  • Blake Shelton received four nominations, including Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “God’s Country.” He is also nominated for Music Event of the Year for “Dive Bar” with Garth Brooks; Shelton previously won in this category in 2009 for “Hillbilly Bone.”
  • Reigning Group of the Year Old Dominion earned four nominations, including their fifth nod for Group of the Year. They are also nominated for Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “One Man Band.” Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen and Brad Tursi each received individual nominations as songwriters in the Song of the Year category for “One Man Band.”
  • Eric Church received three nominations, including his second nod for Entertainer of the Year. Church was also nominated as artist and songwriter in the Song of the Year category for “Some of It” – marking his eighth and ninth nominations in the category.
  • Reigning New Male Artist of the Year Luke Combs received three nominations including Male Artist of the Year and his first nomination for Entertainer of the Year. He also received his first nomination for Album of the Year for What You See Is What You Get.
  • Miranda Lambert received three nominations including Female Artist of the Year, which she has won nine times, more than any other female in the history of the ACM Awards. Lambert was also nominated for Album of the Year for Wildcard and received a nomination for Music Event of the Year for “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” featuring Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and Elle King.
  • Reigning New Female Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde received three nominations. She received two nominations in the Song of the Year category as both artist and songwriter for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” her first in the category. Also, she received her first nomination for Music Event of the Year for her contribution to Miranda Lambert’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.”
  • Reigning Female Artist of the Year Kacey Musgraves earned three nominations including her seventh nod for Female Artist of the Year. Additionally, she received her first Single of the Year nomination as both artist and producer for “Rainbow.”
  • ACM Award-winning producer busbee is posthumously nominated for two awards, including his third nod for Album of the Year with Maren Morris as a producer for GIRL. Also, he is nominated for Producer of the Year, his third nomination in this category.
  • This year’s nominations list includes 25 artists and industry creators receiving their first-ever ACM Awards nomination. The first-time nominees include Mason Allen, Ingrid Andress, Dan Atchison, Gabby Barrett, Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jeremy Bussey, Clint Daniels, Carlo Glorioso, Riley Green, Caylee Hammack, Michael Hardy, The Highwomen, Cody Johnson, Alexa Kinigopoulos, Stephen Kinigopoulos, Lil Nas X, Angie Lorenz, Sophie Muller, Michael Trent Reznor, Matthew Atticus Ross, Jordan Schmidt, Tenille Townes, Morgan Wallen and YoungKio.

photo by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com

ACM Awards Nominations: Updated List

ACM Awards Nominations: Updated List

As the nominations for the ACM Awards are announced across various platforms beginning at 7.30 a.m. CT on Feb. 27, Nash Country Daily will update this post.

Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriter/Publisher/Artist)

  • “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay feat. Justin Bieber, written by Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
  • “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” – Ashley McBryde, written by Jeremy Bussey, Ashley McBryde
  • “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton, written by Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt
  • “One Man Band” – Old Dominion, written by Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi
  • “Some of It” – Erich Church, written by Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, Bobby Pinson

Songwriter of the Year

  • Ashley Gorley
  • Michael Hardy
  • Hillary Lindsey
  • Shane McAnally
  • Josh Osborne

Duo of the Year

  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Brothers Osborne
  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Maddie & Tae

Group of the Year

  • Lady Antebellum
  • Little Big Town
  • Midland
  • Old Dominion
  • The Highwomen

Male Artist of the Year

  • Dierks Bentley
  • Luke Combs
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Keith Urban

Female Artist of the Year

  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Maren Morris
  • Kacey Musgraves
  • Carrie Underwood

Entertainer of the Year

  • Luke Bryan
  • Eric Church
  • Luke Combs
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Carrie Underwood

New Female Artist of the Year

  • Ingrid Andress
  • Gabby Barrett
  • Lindsay Ell
  • Caylee Hammack
  • Tenille Townes

New Male Artist of the Year

  • Jordan Davis
  • Russell Dickerson
  • Riley Green
  • Cody Johnson
  • Morgan Wallen

Album of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

  • Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
  • Girl – Maren Morris
  • Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
  • What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
  • Wildcard – Miranda Lambert

Single of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

  • “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
  • “One Man Band” Old Dominion
  • “Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
  • “Rumor” – Lee Brice
  • “What If I Never Get Over You” – Lady Antebellum

Video of the Year [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

  • “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber
  • “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton
  • “One Man Band” – Old Dominion
  • “Remember You Young” – Thomas Rhett
  • “Sugarcoat” – Little Big Town

Music Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

  • “10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber
  • “Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks featuring Blake Shelton
  • “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” – Miranda Lambert featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Tenille Townes, Ashley McBryde and Caylee Hammack.
  • Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
  • “What Happens in a Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert featuring Lindsay Ell
Listen to Keith Urban’s New Song, “God Whispered Your Name”

Listen to Keith Urban’s New Song, “God Whispered Your Name”

In addition to being named host of the 55th ACM Awards, Keith Urban released a new song, “God Whispered Your Name,” on Feb. 27.

“We have brand-new music coming out today—finally,” said Keith via a video on Twitter. “This song is called ‘God Whispered Your Name.’ It is brand new—part of a whole bunch of new music that is coming out very soon.”

Listen to Keith’s new song below.

Keith Urban to Host ACM Awards for the First Time on April 5

Keith Urban to Host ACM Awards for the First Time on April 5

The Academy of Country Music announced that Keith Urban will host the 55th ACM Awards on April 5 in Las Vegas.

This will be Keith’s first time hosting the ACM Awards.

“As if having a new song [“God Whispered Your Name”] out today wasn’t enough, I also get to host the ACMs in April,” said Keith. “I’ll tell you—this year already feels like the most creative and energized year of my life . . . and there’s so much more to come. Incredibly grateful—and ready to roll!”

A carousel of artists have hosted the show in recent years, including Reba McEntire (2018–2019), Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley (2016–2017), Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton (2013–2015), Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton (2011–2012) and more.

The ACM Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 5 (live 8–11 p.m. ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network and be available to stream live and on-demand across digital platforms on the CBS All Access subscription service.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Vols Continue to Roll with 12-1 Win over UNC Asheville

Vols Continue to Roll with 12-1 Win over UNC Asheville

Vols C Connor Pavolony (17) / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee continued to roll with another dominant performance in all phases during Wednesday’s 12-1 victory over UNC Asheville at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Big Orange (9-0) blasted three home runs and finished with double-digit hits for the fifth time already this season. The Vols have hit multiple homers in all six of their home games and seven of their nine games overall this year.

Alerick Soularie got the scoring started with his first big fly of the season, a solo shot in the second inning. UT added two more runs in the third on RBI hits from Zach Daniels and Jake Rucker before busting the game open with five runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to make it 12-0.

Connor Pavolony and Evan Russell both smashed two-run homers in the sixth before Liam Spence and Pete Derkay combined to drive in three runs in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Freshman pitcher Mark McLaughlin was extremely impressive on the mound for the Vols, tossing five shutout innings in relief to earn his first career win. The Johns Creek, Georgia native gave up just one hit and struck out five in the outing.

MJ Lucas drove in the lone run for the Bulldogs (2-6) with an RBI groundout in the eighth inning to break up UT’s shutout bid.

Tennessee continues its 10-game homestand with a weekend series against George Washington starting on Friday at 4 p.m. All three games of the series will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

Notable
February Fun
The Vols have literally been unbeatable in the month of February over the past two seasons. After going 9-0 last year, Tennessee is now 9-0 this season with two more games to go. In those 18 wins, UT has outscored its opponents 160-21.

Home Runs for Everyone!
The Big Orange blasted three more home runs on Wednesday night to bring their season total to 16 through nine games. It took UT 16 games to reach the 16-home run mark a year ago. Ten different players have gone yard for the Vols after Soularie and Russell hit their first homers of the year today. Tennessee entered Wednesday’s game ranked third in the nation in homers.

Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Vitello Postgame | Russell Postgame | McLaughlin Postgame

-UT Athletics

Five Vols Ready to Impress in Indy, NFL Combine Underway in Primetime

Five Vols Ready to Impress in Indy, NFL Combine Underway in Primetime

Live Results

Credit: UT Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – Five Tennessee Vols are set to take the next step in their football careers as the annual NFL Scouting Combine is underway at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Linebackers Daniel Bituli and Darrell Taylor, wide receivers Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings and tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson are all in Indianapolis for the week-long event.

NFL Network and NFL.com will air live primetime coverage all weekend. Live results are available at NFL.com/combine.

Bituli, a 2019 second-team All-SEC selection who racked up 266 career tackles, tied for the longest wingspan among linebackers who measured in (6 feet, 11 3/8 inches). Callaway, Jennings and Wood-Anderson will all go through on-field drills Thursday. Taylor will not participate in drills or workouts as he recovers from injury. Players have the opportunity to participate in the drills of their choosing.

It marks the fourth straight year the Vols have sent five or more participants to the NFL Combine. Tennessee is one of just four SEC programs and nine Power 5 schools to send multiple wide receivers to the event this year. A full schedule of the event is below:

Vols NFL Combine On-Field Schedule (all times Eastern, players can choose which drills to participate in)

Thursday, Feb. 27
4 p.m. – Marquez CallawayDominick Wood-Anderson 40-yard dash
4:30 p.m. – Marquez CallawayDominick Wood-Anderson position drills
5:30 p.m. – Marquez CallawayDominick Wood-Anderson vertical jump
6 p.m. – Marquez CallawayDominick Wood-Anderson broad jump
6:30 p.m. – Jauan Jennings vertical jump
7 p.m. – Jauan Jennings broad jump
8:30 p.m. – Jauan Jennings 40-yard dash
9 p.m. – Jauan Jennings position drills

Saturday, Feb. 29
6:30 p.m. – Daniel Bituli vertical jump
7 p.m. – Daniel Bituli broad jump
7:30 p.m. – Daniel Bituli 40-yard dash
8:30 p.m. – Daniel Bituli position drills

 

UT Athletics

Kamera Harris Named to SEC Women’s Basketball Community Service Team

Kamera Harris Named to SEC Women’s Basketball Community Service Team

SEC WBB Community Service Team

Credit: UT Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — University of Tennessee senior Kamera Harris has been named to the SEC Women’s Basketball Community Service Team, the league office announced on Wednesday.

This marks the 22nd year for the SEC Community Service Team for women’s basketball as well as for men’s basketball. All league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men’s and women’s sports being chosen from 1999-2003. The SEC began this concept with a football Community Service Team in 1994 to recognize the efforts of student-athletes who give their time to help people and organizations in their communities.

Harris, a native of Hampton, Georgia, and a graduate of Dutchtown High School, participated in the Adopt-A-Family program, joining with team members to purchase and deliver gifts at Christmas. She also helped serve the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s (SAAC) Community Holiday Meal, providing food to the less fortunate during the holiday season, and she welcomed youngsters to the UT campus for Voloween, a Halloween celebration for kids in UT’s Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex that is organized by SAAC.

Additionally, Harris supported the Race for the Summitt 5K, which was held to raise awareness and support for the Pat Summitt Foundation, an organization named for the late, legendary Lady Vol coach that is at the forefront for finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Other activities have included volunteering time at the Boys and Girls Club, participating in the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee’s Hoops For Hope, decorating Christmas cookies with kids at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, volunteering at the Fantasy of Trees East Tennessee Children’s Hospital fundraiser, assisting in the Cole’s Launch paper airplane contest for patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, and celebrating and dancing with teens suffering from chronic illnesses at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s “One Unforgettable Night.”

Harris’ leadership and service qualities earned her a spot as the women’s basketball representative for the 2019-20 UT Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as a member of SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council as well.

The 6-foot-3 graduate student, who is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member, has played in a career-high 25 games this season and has averaged 11.3 minutes per contest in a reserve role. After moving from center to forward this year, Harris has stepped up for her team and provided memorable efforts vs. Notre Dame (6 pts./4 rebs.) and Texas (6 pts./3 rebs.) among others and posted a career-best scoring night with eight points vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

After earning her undergraduate degree in recreation and sport management in May 2019, Harris is working toward finishing a master’s degree in communication and information with emphasis in journalism and electronic media.

Harris and teammate Lou Brown will be honored during Senior Night festivities on Thursday prior to Tennessee’s game with Ole Miss. The Senior Night recognitions begin at 6:40 p.m. ET and tip is slated for 7:02 p.m. The regular season home finale will be streamed on SECN+ and carried on the Lady Vol Radio Network.

 

UT Athletics

Watch Dustin Lynch Perform Fiery New Single, “Momma’s House,” on “Jimmy Kimmel”

Watch Dustin Lynch Perform Fiery New Single, “Momma’s House,” on “Jimmy Kimmel”

Dustin Lynch stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live on Feb. 25 to perform a set on the show’s outdoor stage. In addition to performing “Small Town Boy,” “Where It’s At” and “Ridin’ Roads,” Dustin treated fans to his new single, “Momma’s House.”

The fiery tune, which was penned by Dylan Schneider, Michael Lotten, Rodney Clawson and Justin Wilson, is currently No. 58 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after two weeks. “Momma’s House” is the third single from Dustin’s fourth studio album, Tullahoma (Jan. 17). The new project takes its name from Dustin’s Tennessee hometown, which is about 80 miles southeast of Nashville.

“Every song on Tullahoma, there’s a reason it’s there,” says Dustin. “A lot of that points back to the people who raised me, and growing up with a lifestyle where I could go outside and have fun, explore and try new things in the great outdoors. It’s kind of about being that kid and learning all those things. That’s my story, but I think we all can relate to the kid who’s discovering, the kid who’s figuring out love for the first time, all that good stuff.”

Watch Dustin perform “Momma’s House” below.

photo by NCD

Carly Pearce, Michael Ray, Chris Young, Charles Esten & More Help Raise $1 Million at 12th Annual T.J. Martell Foundation Gala

Carly Pearce, Michael Ray, Chris Young, Charles Esten & More Help Raise $1 Million at 12th Annual T.J. Martell Foundation Gala

The T.J. Martell Foundation hosted its 12th annual Nashville Honors Gala on Feb. 24, raising more than $1 million for cancer research.

Honorees at this year’s gala, which was hosted by Charles Esten, were treated to performances by Vince Gill, Carly Pearce, Michael Ray, Wade Hayes, CeCe Winans and Rascal Flatts.

In addition, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Chris Young and more took part in the celebration. The T.J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s leading foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding treatments and cures for cancer. Since 1975, the Foundation has provided more than $280 million for research at flagship hospitals in the United States.

This year’s honorees include:

  • Clint Higham: Chairman’s Award
  • Dr. Jordan Berlin: Medical Research Advancement Award
  • Patrick G. Emery: Spirit of Nashville Award
  • Amy Grant: Tony Martell Outstanding Entertainment Achievement Award
  • Jim and Laurie Seabury: Lifetime Humanitarian Award

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Garth Brooks to Become One of Only Nine Artists in History to Receive “Billboard Icon Award”

Garth Brooks to Become One of Only Nine Artists in History to Receive “Billboard Icon Award”

Country Music Hall of Fame member Garth Brooks will soon add another award to his crowded trophy case: the Billboard Icon Award.

Garth will be presented with the award at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, which will broadcast live from Las Vegas on April 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Garth will also perform during the broadcast.

Garth’s Billboard accomplishments include nine No. 1 albums on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, 17 No. 1 albums on the Top Country Albums chart, 19 No. 1 singles and more. Garth is the first and only artist in history to achieve eight diamond-certified albums with sales of more than 10 million units each. Garth is also the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history, certified by the RIAA with more than 156 million album sales.

Garth will join an esteemed group of eight additional artists who have been presented the Billboard Icon Award: Cher, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

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