Watch the Teaser for the Final Season of CMT’s “Nashville”

Watch the Teaser for the Final Season of CMT’s “Nashville”

CMT’s Nashville will be coming to an end in 2018.

Season 6, which will debut on Jan. 4 and feature 16 episodes, will be the show’s final season.

Since launching on ABC in May 2013, Nashville has produced 108 shows over five seasons and featured memorable characters such as Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton), Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), Deacon Claybourne (Charles Esten) Scarlett O’Connor (Clare Bowen) and more.

Watch a sneak peak of Season 6 below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvia9ABrySU

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Cole Swindell Talks New EP, New Tour, Upcoming 3rd Studio Album, Thanksgiving Plans & More

Cole Swindell Talks New EP, New Tour, Upcoming 3rd Studio Album, Thanksgiving Plans & More

Jim Casey talks with Cole Swindell about:

  • his current streak of seven consecutive No. 1 singles
  • releasing his new single, “Stay Downtown”
  • dropping his new EP, Down Home Sessions IV, on Nov. 24, which features acoustic versions of songs he wrote for other artists
  • picking the five songs for the new EP
  • the concept behind his Down Home Sessions EPs
  • playing seven small venues on his Down Home Sessions Tour, which begins on Jan. 11
  • hitting the road with opener Morgan Evans
  • getting amped-up before his shows
  • working on his third studio, which will be released in 2018
  • going back home to Georgia for Thanksgiving

Show Participants:

  • Cole Swindell
  • Jim Casey, NCD editor in chief

Watch Luke Bryan’s Dramatic Reading of New Tune, “Hooked On It”

Watch Luke Bryan’s Dramatic Reading of New Tune, “Hooked On It”

Never one to take himself too seriously, Luke Bryan treated his Facebook friends to a dramatic reading of his new song, “Hooked On It,” which will appear on his upcoming sixth studio album, What Makes You Country.

The new tune, which was co-penned by Luke, Dallas Davidson and David Lee Murphy, is available as an instant grat track—with three other songs—if you pre-order What Makes You Country now. The album officially drops on Dec. 8.

Watch Luke’s dramatic interpretation below.

photo by Jason Simanek

Listen to Miranda Lambert’s New Collaboration With Green Day on “Ordinary World”

Listen to Miranda Lambert’s New Collaboration With Green Day on “Ordinary World”

Miranda Lambert teamed with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Green Day to sing “Ordinary World” on the group’s new album, Greatest Hits: God’s Favorite Band, which dropped on Nov. 17.

The tune originally appeared on Green Day’s 2016 album, Revolution Radio.

Miranda has traded vocals with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong in the past, most notably at the 2014 Grammys when the artists paid tribute to Phil Everly by singing “When Will I Be Loved.”

Listen to “Ordinary World” below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jZ3C_s8wYw

photo by Jason Simanek

Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Little Big Town Take Home American Music Awards

Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Little Big Town Take Home American Music Awards

Keith Urban had a big night at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 19, taking home three trophies in the fan-voted competition, including Favorite Male Country Artist, Favorite Country Album (Ripcord) and Favorite Country Song (“Blue Ain’t Your Color”).

Carrie Underwood was named Favorite Female Country Artist, while Little Big Town copped Favorite Country Duo/Group.

Check out all of the winners below.

Favorite Country Male Artist
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Keith Urban WINNER

Favorite Country Female Artist
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood WINNER

Favorite Country Duo or Group
Florida Georgia Line
Little Big Town WINNER
Old Dominion

Favorite Country Album
Jason Aldean, They Don’t Know
Chris Stapleton, From A Room: Volume 1
Keith Urban, Ripcord WINNER

Favorite Country Song
Sam Hunt, “Body Like A Back Road”
Jon Pardi, “Dirt On My Boots”
Keith Urban, “Blue Ain’t Your Color” WINNER

Tour of the Year
Garth Brooks
Coldplay WINNER
U2

Artist of the Year
Bruno Mars WINNER
The Chainsmokers
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran

Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist
Bruno Mars WINNER
Drake
Ed Sheeran

Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist
Lady Gaga WINNER
Rihanna
Alessia Cara

Favorite Pop/Rock Duo or Group
Coldplay
The Chainsmokers
Imagine Dragons WINNER

Favorite Pop/Rock Album
The Weeknd, Starboy
Bruno Mars, 24K Magic WINNER
Drake, More Life

Favorite Pop/Rock Song
“Despacito,” Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber WINNER
“Shape of You,” Ed Sheeran
“Closer,” The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey

New Artist of the Year
James Arthur
Niall Horan WINNER
Julia Michaels
Post Malone
Rae Sremmurd

Collaboration of the Year
The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey, “Closer”
DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne, “I’m the One”
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, “Despacito” WINNER
Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamar, “Don’t Wanna Know”
The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, “Starboy”

Video of the Year
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like” WINNER
Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee, “Despacito”
Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”

Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Drake WINNER
Kendrick Lamar
Migos

Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album
Drake, More Life
Kendrick Lamar, DAMN WINNER
Migos, Culture

Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song
DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne, “I’m the One” WINNER
Kendrick Lamar, “HUMBLE.”
Rae Sremmurd featuring Gucci Mane, “Black Beatles”

Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist
Bruno Mars WINNER
Childish Gambino
The Weeknd

Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
Beyoncé WINNER
Kehlani
Rihanna

Favorite Soul/R&B Song
Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like” WINNER
Khalid, “Location”
The Weeknd, “Starboy”

Favorite Alternative Rock Artist
Imagine Dragons
Linkin Park WINNER
twenty one pilots

Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist
Bruno Mars
Shawn Mendes WINNER
Ed Sheera

Favorite Latin Artist
Daddy Yankee
Luis Fonsi
Shakira WINNER

Favorite Contemporary/Inspirational Artist
Lauren Daigle WINNER
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin

Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist
The Chainsmokers WINNER
DJ Snake
Calvin Harris

Top Soundtrack
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2
Moana WINNER
Trolls

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Country Music Legend Mel Tillis Dead at 85

Country Music Legend Mel Tillis Dead at 85

Mel Tillis, one of country music’s most versatile artists, died this morning (Nov. 19) of respiratory failure at age 85. Mel battled intestinal issues since early 2016 and never fully recovered.

Mel won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 1976 and was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Lonnie Melvin “Mel” Tillis was born Aug. 8, 1932, in Plant City, Fla., but raised in the community of Pahokee, Fla. As a youngster, he survived a childhood bout with malaria, which left him with a chronic stutter. Before moving to Nashville in 1957, Mel worked on the railroad and joined the Air Force. During his time in the military, he was assigned as a baker, a trade he learned at a young age. “People asked me if I served my country,” Mel remarked in an interview with Country Weekly. “I always tell them that I sure did. I served cakes, pies and donuts,” he laughed. While stationed in Japan, Mel became the lead singer for a band called The Westerners.

Though blessed with a strong and resonant singing voice, Mel found his first musical success as a songwriter. Webb Pierce recorded a tune that Mel wrote, “I’m Tired,” and took it to the No. 3 spot on the country charts in 1957. “Detroit City,” which Mel co-wrote, became a crossover hit for Bobby Bare in 1963 and remained one of Mel’s most popular compositions.

Mel touched a topical nerve with “Ruby, Don’t Take your Love to Town,” centering on a paralyzed war veteran who lies in bed helplessly as his wife gets ready to hit the town. Mel often noted that he based the song on a real-life couple in Florida. Released during the height of the Vietnam War (though never explicitly referred to), the song addressed the plight of returning veterans, an issue frequently swept under the rug. “Ruby” peaked in the Top 10 on the pop charts for Kenny Rogers and the First Edition in 1969, though barely reached the Top 40 on the country charts.

Mel made early recordings in the 1970’s under Mel Tillis and The Statesiders, finally hitting the top in 1972 with “I Ain’t Never.” His powerful one-two punch of songwriting and vocals propelled him to the CMA award for Entertainer of the Year in 1976. That same year, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

He enjoyed his most consistent chart success after signing with MCA, where he was now billed only under his name. A series of No. 1 hits in the late 1970’s included “Good Woman Blues,” “Heart Healer” and “Coca Cola Cowboy,” the latter from the movie Every Which Way but Loose starring Clint Eastwood.

The film world also helped Mel become one of country’s first multi-media stars. He appeared in such movies as The Cannonball Run, W.W. & the Dixie Dancekings, Smokey & the Bandit II and others.

photo courtesy Country Music Hall of Fame

By the mid-1980s, Mel found only occasional chart success. But he kept active in the business with his music publishing ventures and a theater in Branson, Mo., where he performed until 2002. In 1984, he released the book Stutterin’ Boy: The Autobiography of Mel Tillis. Mel’s daughter Pam became a country star in her own right, scoring several chart hits and winning the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award in 1994.

In 2007, Mel was awarded for his contributions to the genre with his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Country Music Hall of Famer leaves behind six children (Pam Tillis, Connie Tillis, Cindy Shorey, Sonny Tillis, Carrie April Tillis, and Hannah Puryear), six grandchildren, a great grandson, a sister (Linda Crosby) and brother (Richard Tillis), the mother of five of his children (Doris Tillis), his longtime partner (Kathy DeMonaco), and many lifelong friends and fans around the world.

The Tillis family asks for your prayers and will soon release more information regarding funeral services in Florida and Nashville.

Photo Courtesy Mel Tillis Enterprises

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