Lady Antebellum, Clint Black, Mac McAnally & More Inducted Into Music City Walk of Fame [Photo Gallery]

Lady Antebellum, Clint Black, Mac McAnally & More Inducted Into Music City Walk of Fame [Photo Gallery]

Posted on October 23, 2019

The Music City Walk of Fame inducted its Class of 2019 on Oct. 22 at Nashville’s Walk of Fame Park: Lady Antebellum, Clint Black, Mac McAnally, Chet Atkins (posthumously) and DeFord Bailey (posthumously).

A number of stars helped induct the honorees, including Tim McGraw (Lady Antebellum), Steve Wariner (Chet Atkins), Amy Grant (Mac McAnally), producer James Stroud (Clint Black) and Opry host Bill Cody (DeFord Bailey).

The new honorees join the likes of Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, Hank Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town, Kenny Rogers and more in the Music City Walk of Fame, which was created in 2006 as a tribute to artists of all genres who have contributed to the world through song and made a significant contribution to the music industry with a connection to Music City. Sidewalk medallions line the one-mile stretch with the names of the inductees etched in a star and guitar design.

The new inductees received the 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th and 89th stars on the Walk of Fame.

Take a look at the photo gallery, courtesy of Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com.

 

 

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

CMA Awards Announce First Round of Performers, Including Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Keith Urban & More

CMA Awards Announce First Round of Performers, Including Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Keith Urban & More

Posted on October 23, 2019

The Country Music Association announced its first round of performers for the 53rd annual CMA Awards: Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Dolly Parton with for King & Country and Zach Williams, Pink and Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.

Hosted by Carrie Underwood with special guests Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, the CMA Awards will air live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.

Nominees are below.

Entertainer of the Year

  • Garth Brooks
  • Eric Church
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year

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

Male Vocalist of the Year

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

Vocal Duo of the Year

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

New Artist of the Year

  • Cody Johnson
  • Ashley McBryde
  • Midland
  • Carly Pearce
  • Morgan Wallen

Single of the Year (Awarded to Singer, Producer and Engineer)

  • “Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne  – Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall, Arturo Buenahora, Jr.  – Mix Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
  • “GIRL” – Maren Morris – Producer: Greg Kurstin – Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin
  • “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton – Producer: Scott Hendricks – Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
  • “Millionaire” – Chris Stapleton – Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton – Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
  • “Speechless” – Dan + Shay – Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks – Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano

Album of the Year (Awarded to Artist & Producer)

  • Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett – Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson
  • Cry Pretty – Carrie Underwood – Producers: David Garcia, Jim Jonsin, Carrie Underwo
  • Dan + Shay – Dan + Shay – Producers: Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks
  • Desperate Man – Eric Church – Producers: Jay Joyce, Arturo Buenahora,
  • Girl – Maren Morris – Producers: busbee, Maren Morris, Greg Kurstin

Vocal Group of the Year

  • Little Big Town
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Midland
  • Old Dominion
  • Zac Brown Band

Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriters)

  • “Beautiful Crazy” – Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette II, Robert Williford
  • “Girl” – Maren Morris, Sarah Aarons, Greg Kurstin
  • “God’s Country” – Devin Dawson, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy
  • “Rainbow” – Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
  • “Tequila” – Dan Smyers, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds

Musical Event of the Year

  • “All My Favorite People” – Maren Morris feat. Brothers Osborne
  • “Brand New Man” – Brooks & Dunn feat. Luke Combs
  • “Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks feat. Blake Shelton
  • “Old Town Road” (remix) – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
  • “What Happens in a Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert feat. Lindsay Ell

Music Video of the Year (Awarded to Artist & Director)

  • “Burning Man” – Dierks Bentley Feat. Brothers Osborne – Director: Wes Edwards
  • “GIRL” – Maren Morris – Director: Dave Meyers
  • “God’s Country” – Blake Shelton – Director: Sophie Muller
  • “Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves – Director: Hannah Lux Davis
  • “Some Of It” – Eric Church – Director: Reid Long

Musician of the Year

  • Jenee Fleenor, Fiddle
  • Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar
  • Mac McAnally, Guitar
  • Ilya Toshinsky, Banjo/Guitar
  • Derek Wells, Guitar

photos: Keith Urban & Dolly Parton by Curtis Hilbun; Eric Church and Carrie Underwood by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Photo Gallery: Musicians Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2019 in Star-Studded Ceremony With Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown & More

Photo Gallery: Musicians Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2019 in Star-Studded Ceremony With Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown & More

Posted on October 23, 2019

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum inducted more than a dozen members during a star-studded ceremony on Oct. 22 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Musicians Hall of Fame Class of 2019

  • Alabama (Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen): Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Steve Wariner
  • Don Everly
  • Felix Cavaliere
  • The Surfaris (Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson)
  • The Original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (David Briggs, Jerry Carrigan, Norbert Putnam, Terry Thompson, Earl “Peanutt” Montgomery, Joe South, Reggie Young)
  • Nashville A-Team – The Players (Eddie Bayers, Paul Franklin, John Hobbs, Brent Mason, Michael Rhodes)
  • The Muscle Shoals Horn Section (Aaron Brown, Harrison Calloway, Ronnie Eades, Charlie Rhodes, Harvey Thompson)
  • Owen Bradley
  • Billy Sherrill
  • Bob Taylor

A number of artists performed in honor of the inductees, including Garth Brooks, Zac Brown, Jason Aldean, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn, Ricky Skaggs and more.

In addition to the aforementioned inductees, Alabama was honored with the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located in Nashville, was created in 2006 to honor musicians of all genres. Past inductees include Chet Atkins, Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Daniels, Jerry Reed and more.

Take a look at our photo gallery, courtesy of Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com.

photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Luke Bryan Wins Inaugural ACM Album of the Decade for “Crash My Party”

Luke Bryan Wins Inaugural ACM Album of the Decade for “Crash My Party”

Posted on October 23, 2019

Luke Bryan’s Crash My Party has been named the ACM Album of the Decade.

Luke was presented with the award during his performance at the 11th annual Opry Goes Pink showcase in Nashville on Oct. 22. The recipients of the award include Luke, the album’s producer, Jeff Stevens, and Capitol Records Nashville.

“Crash My Party was such a life changing album for us,” said Luke from the Opry stage. “We didn’t know it at the time, we were just loving making music for you guys. It blew my mind the love and support we had from the fans. It’s so fun getting to do this. Thank you to my producer Jeff and my record label and management for sharing this experience with me tonight!”

The ACM Album of the Decade Award recognizes an album that has impacted country music over the decade. The factors considered include success at radio of singles released from album, album concept, commercial media, sales and streaming, artistic merit and ACM Award recognition.

Luke’s four-time Platinum selling album, Crash My Party, produced by Jeff Stevens, was released in 2013 and featured six consecutive No. 1 singles: “Crash My Party,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” “Drink A Beer,” “Play It Again,” “Roller Coaster” and “I See You.”

The Academy of Country Music recently announced the addition of seven new ACM Decade Awards: Song of the Decade, Album of the Decade, Artist-Songwriter of the Decade, Breakout Artist of the Decade, Single of the Decade, Songwriter of the Decade and Music Event of the Decade.

Previously announce recipients of the ACM Decade Awards include:

  • ACM Song of the Decade: Miranda Lambert and songwriters Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin – “The House That Built Me”
  • ACM Songwriter of the Decade: Rhett Akins
  • ACM Artist-Songwriter of the Decade: Chris Stapleton
  • ACM Breakout Artist of the Decade: Florida Georgia Line
  • ACM Single of the Decade: Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
  • ACM Musical Event of the Decade: Florida Georgia Line & Bebe Rexha – “Meant to Be”
  • ACM Artist of the Decade: Jason Aldean

photo by NCD

RECRUITING: Vols Sweep Whitehaven Trio Late Tuesday Night

Posted on October 23, 2019

By: Eric Cain / @_Cainer 

Tuesday was a good night for the University of Tennessee.

In the span of an hour late in the night, the Whitehaven High School trio of Bryson Eason, Martavius French and Tamarion McDonald announced their commitments to the Vols. All three boast a four-star rating, per Rivals, and will figure into the defensive plans for UT next season.

Eason and French are inside linebackers and should provide depth to a position that is currently depleted on the Tennessee roster.

Eason, who stands in at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, is the 11th rated prospect at his position and seventh in the state of Tennessee. French, 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, is just ahead as the 10th inside linebacker in the country and sixth-rated prospect in the state.

The former led the charge by committing to UT first.

Moments later, French, who decommitted from Arkansas earlier this week, vowed his loyalty to Knoxville.

Around the same time, McDonald announced on Twitter his decommitment from Mississippi State.

Bringing the night to a close, McDonald committed to Tennessee making it a 3-for-3 night in the Memphis area for the UT coaching staff.

All three players were in house for Tennessee’s loss to Georgia on October 5 and visited Arkansas last weekend.

The latter was the final part of the trifecta who picked up an offer from Tennessee in late September. While on a visit to Whitehaven High School, Tennessee’s coaches watched McDonald play and offered him after the game.

McDonald, 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, is listed as an outside linebacker per Rivals – but plays all over the field for his high school team. In a recent interview on Vol Radio Network’s ‘The Nation,’ Whitehaven coach Rodney Saulsberry said, ‘he can literally do anything.’

The athlete has seen time at each linebacker spot, safety, quarterback, wide receiver, tight end and is even the team’s punter.

McDonald told The Sports Animal’s Eric Cain in a recent interview that Tennessee is toiling with the idea of potentially using him as a bigger nickelback.

It was a goal for Jeremy Pruitt to lockdown in-state athletes when initially taking over the program in December of 2017. It was a goal for Eason, French and McDonald to play college football together.

Tuesday night, the two goals look to be reached.

The Vols now have 17 known commitments for the Class of 2020 and have jumped up to 19th nationally and seventh in the Southeastern Conference – per Rivals.

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