It was a night of a thousand stars last night (Oct. 19). OK, maybe 10 or 12 stars, but still, it was a big night for Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line, who were honored at the CMT Artists of the Year show, which airs tonight (Oct. 20) on CMT.
The event, held at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, celebrated five artists selected by CMT as top artists of the year. In addition, Kelsea Ballerini was honored with the second annual Artists of the Year Breakout Award and Shania Twain received the third annual Artist of a Lifetime Award.
The night was filled with performances from all the award honorees, which included some big collaborations. Thomas Rhett was joined by Swedish singing sensation Zara Larsson on a mashup of TR’s’ “Die a Happy Man” and Zara’s “Never Forget You”; Luke Bryan performed his No.1 duet, “Home Alone Tonight, with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild; Carrie Underwood was joined onstage by The Love Junkies—songwriters Liz Rose, Lori McKenna and Hillary Lindsay; and Kelsea Ballerini, Jill Scott and Meghan Trainor collaborated on a tribute to CMT Artist of a Lifetime recipient Shania Twain.
You can check out the full show when it airs Thursday (Oct. 20) on CMT at 9 p.m. ET. Don’t miss all the performances and speeches from CMT’s Artists of the Year.
Watch a sneak peek of Kelsea Ballerini, Jill Scott and Meghan Trainor’s tribute to Shania Twain with “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.”
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Main photo and performance photos by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT; Red Carpet photos by Curtis Hilbun/AFF-USA.COM
With her name in neon amid the glow of purple and blue stage lights, the Texas songbird belted out her Top 20 hit to the delight of the audience, who went home with a copy of Maren’s album, Hero, courtesy of Ellen.
Lauren Alaina has released a powerful new video to complement her Top 20 single, “Road Less Traveled,” a song she co-penned with Meghan Trainor and Jesse Frasure about remaining true to who you are despite self-doubt and external pressures.
As a 15-year-old on American Idol, Lauren was thrust into the national spotlight in 2011 and had to deal with a lot of external pressures and self-doubt.
“I actually had an eating disorder for four years,” Lauren, 21, told NCD earlier this summer. “I had it before [American Idol]. But it got dramatically worse after the show. I dropped 40 pounds after the show aired. I was 25 pounds underweight. It was ridiculous. It was not good. My hair was falling out—I had bald spots all over my head. I seriously messed my stomach up. I was very very unhealthy.”
After overcoming her eating disorder, Lauren wanted to give hope, encouragement and inspiration to other young women who may be dealing with negative self-image issues, which is one of the reasons she co-wrote “Road Less Traveled.”
“I just feel like when I was growing up, there were so many songs that made you proud to be who you were,” said Lauren. “Like, [Shania Twain’s] ‘Man I Feel Like a Woman’ and [Martina McBride’s] ‘This One’s for the Girls.’ All of these songs that were super inspiring as far as feeling good in your own skin and you’re not alone. I wanted to write a song like that, and ‘Road Less Traveled’ is that song for me. Actually, a lot of the songs on the album have this message, because it’s what I’m most passionate about. It’s super fun and I feel like it kind of showcases my personality, but it also has a serious message that I think people will benefit from hearing. It’s really universal.
“I wanted to share my story because I think that some of my favorite artists just own what they are going through and share it. It’s so healing for everyone. It’s healing for them to write it, it’s healing for people to hear and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m not alone.’”
Watch Lauren celebrate the “Road Less Traveled” in her new video below.
Maren Morris has announced that she will be hitting the road in the early part of 2017 for her first-ever headlining tour, The HERO Tour 2017.
The HERO Tour kicks off on Feb. 2 in New York City with stops in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
With the release of her debut album, HERO, in June, Maren has been out on the road with Keith Urban as part of his ripCord World Tour 2016, wrapping on Nov. 19 at the BarClays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. —leaving Maren plenty of time to get ready for The HERO Tour in Feb.
You can catch Maren at the 50th Annual CMA Awards, Nov. 2 on ABC as she vies for five of country’s top awards, including Album of the Year (HERO) Female Vocalist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year (“My Church) and Single of the Year (“My Church”).
DateVenueCity
Feb. 2 Bowery Ballroom New York
Feb. 3 Paradise Rock Club Boston
Feb. 4 TLA Philadelphia
Feb. 16 9:30 Club Washington, D.C.
Feb. 17 Bijou Theatre Knoxville, Tenn
Feb. 18 Georgia Theatre Athens, Ga.
March 1 Brick Street Oxford, Ohio
March 2 Joe’s on Weed Street Chicago
March 3 Boondocks Pub Springfield, Ill.
March 4 Headliners Music Hall Louisville, Ky.
March 23 Cambridge Room, House of Blues Dallas
March 24 Bronze Peacock Room, House of Blues Houston
March 25 Gruene Hall New Braunfels, Texas
April 4 Cannery Ballroom Nashville, Tenn.
April 5 Cannery Ballroom Nashville, Tenn.
The Nash Next Challenge is down to its 10 finalists, and in the lead-up to the announcement of the champion on Oct. 25, NCD will be profiling each of the 10 finalists.
Today, we are getting to know finalist Alexis Gomez.
In July, Cumulus Media and Big Machine Label Group invited aspiring country artists and bands to participate in the Nash Next Challenge, an artist development competition where the winner will receive a recording contract with Big Machine Label Group and have an original song produced by Jay DeMarcus, which will garner national radio airplay on Cumulus Media radio stations across the U.S.
The winner of the Nash Next Challenge will be crowned on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Mercy Lounge in Nashville by judges Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn, Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, Danielle Bradbery and Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta. The event, which will also feature a performance from Trent Harmon, is open to the public from 7–10 p.m.
Alexis Gomez
Age: 24 Twitter:@thealexisgomez Home City Market: Cincinnati, Ohio
How did you get started in music?
My dad was a musician. Growing up, he taught me to play guitar, piano, sing and I even wrote my first song with him. My dad, brother, sister and I played in a family band together growing up. My very first show was when I was 8 years old. I also started singing at my church when I was in elementary school.
At what age did you realize you wanted to make music your career?
One of the very first shows I remember was at a homeless shelter in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. I sang a Martina McBride song, “Love’s the Only House.” I was so nervous. I got up there and messed up the words, it was terrible. I walked offstage so disappointed but at that same moment, a woman came up to me in tears and looked me in the eyes and thanked me for singing that song. She told me how bad she needed to hear those words in her life that morning. It was then that I realized the amazing power music can have on a person’s life, even when I don’t get it perfect—the words, the music and the stories speak through all of it. I feel that God gave me a gift and I want to work hard at it and use it to touch as many people as I can.
Who are your musical influences?
My influences come from all over country music over the decades. My dad turned me on to people like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks. As I got older I really fell in love with Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and The Band Perry. As I look back through the music I have written over the years, it’s so cool to hear the changes in my style as my influences started to grow and evolve.
What three words describe you?
Goofy, passionate, adventurous.
What would you say is unique about your sound?
Most people can’t tell by looking at me, but I am part Mexican and I would love to be a country artist that can help bridge the gap into the Latino community. I put my own Hispanic twist on some of my originals and even some of the covers that I perform.
What three albums would you take to a deserted island?
Martina McBride’s Greatest Hits, Taylor Swift’s Fearless and Hillsong United’s Zion.
What’s a song you wish you had written?
“Oceans” by Hillsong United. The song has such a cool message and has touched and changed so many lives across the world. I can only dream of writing something so powerful.
What was the first concert you ever attended?
My first country concert was Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.
What’s the last song you heard that blew you away?
Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake singing “Tennessee Whiskey” at the CMAs in 2015.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood.
Where is the craziest place you’ve performed?
In the parking lot of a barbecue restaurant on a bicycle trail.
What’s the first thing you do after a show?
I love to go straight to my merchandise table and meet the fans and people in the audience. I want them to know how much I love getting to know them and want them to always have the chance to get to know me after a show.
What’s been your most exciting or unusual fan encounter?
I did a meet and greet in my hometown at our famous local donut shop, Bill’s Donuts, and I met this little girl who had written to me on Facebook for months and sent me videos with her mom. We finally got to meet and I signed her mini guitar. It was one of the best moments ever. My most unusual fan encounter was when a man told me that God told him we were meant to get married [laughing].
What’s your favorite song to cover?
“Little Red Wagon” by Miranda Lambert.
What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done onstage?
My super cute, hippie skirt came untied while I was performing, and I didn’t even notice until the last song of the show [laughing]. Thank goodness my daddy always told me to wear spanx.
Kane Brown announced today (Oct. 19) that he will be releasing his self-titled debut album on Dec. 2—just in time to pick it up for Christmas.
Kane, who got his start posting videos of cover and original songs on Facebook and YouTube, found success the non-traditional way. Amassing a fan base of more than 2 million followers, the Georgia native released his EP, Chapter 1, in March 2016, where it debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Country Album chart. He is currently enjoying the success of his latest single, “Thunder in the Rain,” which rocketed to the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Country chart thanks to his passionate fan base.
Kane co-penned seven tracks on his new album, which also features cuts penned by Chris Young and Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. Kane is currently on the road as part of Florida Georgia Line’s 2016 Dig Your Roots Tour and will be headlining his own Ain’t No Stopping Us Now Tour with Monster Energy Outbreak this fall.
“It’s like a big family out there. We all hang out and have fun,” Kane told Nash Country Daily. “I did get a song from [Tyler and Brian] that they wrote out there on the road called ‘Hometown,’ which I’m super excited about. It might be my next released song, maybe.”
You can pre-order Kane’s album starting on Friday, Oct. 21, to receive the instant-grat track “Hometown.”
In the lead-up to the CMA Awards on Nov. 2, Nash Country Daily will be conducting its own election to let you—the readers—decide who should win each of the 12 categories at this year’s show. We’re taking politics out of the equation and letting the popular vote speak for itself.
The good news is there is no voter registration. The bad news is we aren’t giving out any trophies. It’s just for bragging rights.
Every two or three days, we will provide a new ballot for one of the 12 categories and allow fans to vote until the next category is announced. Along the way, we’ll post our winners.
Entertainer of the Year: Oct. 10 – WINNER Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood: 34%
Keith Urban: 32%
Luke Bryan: 19%
Garth Brooks: 9%
Chris Stapleton: 6%
Female Vocalist of the Year: Oct. 12 – WINNER Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood: 58%
Miranda Lambert: 24%
Kelsea Ballerini: 8%
Maren Morris: 5%
Kacey Musgraves: 5%
Male Vocalist of the Year: Oct. 14 – WINNER Keith Urban
Keith Urban: 40%
Eric Church: 20%
Tim McGraw: 17%
Dierks Bentley: 14%
Chris Stapleton: 9%
Album of the Year: Oct. 17 – WINNER Storyteller – Carrie Underwood
Storyteller – Carrie Underwood 41%
Ripcord – Keith Urban 27%
Mr. Misunderstood – Eric Church 18%
Black – Dierks Bentley 10%
Hero – Maren Morris 4%
Vocal Duo of the Year: Oct. 21
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae
New Artist of the Year: Oct. 24
Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell
Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriters): Oct. 26
“Burning House” – Cam, Tyler Johnson, Jeff Bhasker
“Die a Happy Man” – Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett, Joe Spargur
“Humble and Kind” – Lori McKenna
“Record Year” – Eric Church, Jeff Hyde
“My Church” – busbee, Maren Morris
Single of the Year: Oct. 28
“Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw
“My Church” – Maren Morris
“Nobody to Blame” – Chris Stapleton
“Record Year” – Eric Church
Musical Event of the Year: Oct. 28
“Different for Girls” – Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
“Home Alone Tonight” – Luke Bryan feat. Karen Fairchild
“The Fighter” – Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood)
“Think of You” – Chris Young with Cassadee Pope
“You Are My Sunshine” – Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton
Video of the Year: Oct. 31
“Burning House” – Cam, directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Fire Away” – Chris Stapleton, directed by Tim Mattia
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw, directed by Wes Edwards
“Record Year” – Eric Church, directed by Jon Peets and Reid Long
“Somewhere on a Beach” – Dierks Bentley, directed by Wes Edwards
Musician of the Year: Oct. 31
Jerry Douglas – Dobro/Lap Steel Guitar
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dan Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Derek Wells – Guitar
Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, The 50th annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
Lady Antebellum by Jason Simanek; Rascal Flatts by Todd Owyoung/The Greenroom PR; Little Big Town by Jason Simanek; Old Dominion by Michael Elins/EB Media; Zac Brown Band by Danny Clinch/Shore Fire Media;
After 10 No. 1 hits, you would think that Billy Currington would be used to getting to the top of the country charts. But according to the “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” singer, the 11th time is just as sweet.
“It’s been a great past couple weeks,” Billy told Nash Country Daily from his tour bus during a stop in San Antonio, Texas. “This is what you dream of as an artist. You can only imagine how the whole team feels. They all feel the same. All number ones are very, very special. It just seems to only get better. It’s just something that’s part of the dream, and then when it happens you just sit back in amazement like, ‘Wow!’
Billy scored his 11th No. 1 single with “It Don’t Hurt Like it Used To,” which stayed in the top spot for two consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Only five other country songs have accomplished that feat this year: Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man,” Luke Bryan’s “Home Alone Tonight” featuring Karen Fairchild, Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here,” Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere on a Beach” and Keith Urban’s “Wasted Time.”
Co-penned by Billy, Shy Carter and Cary Barlowe, “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” wasn’t something that Billy had set out to write.
“It wasn’t planned to meet up and do anything like that. That’s where I really come to appreciate the song myself because I don’t know where it all came from,” Billy recalls. “We all looked at each other, and within two hours, the song was done. It happened, and all the words fell out—just like you hear. Nothing was thought about like, ‘Maybe we should change this line?’ None of those things happened. It was just out of the sky.”
Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images
Months later, with the song far from his mind, Billy’s album was near completion but he had too many songs collected. He wasn’t looking for more, in fact, he was in the process of eliminating some. It was then that his manager reminded Billy of the song he wrote Shy and Cary earlier in the year.
“I just laughed, thinking, ‘Man, that thing probably ain’t no good,'” Billy added. “‘What’s it sound like?’ He said, ‘I’m gonna send you a copy of it. You need to take a listen to this.’ He sent me a copy and that was the first time I had heard the demo that we did from that night. “It just put a big smile on my face and I was like, ‘I remember that.’ I remembered that feeling. It made me feel so good. I remembered how much fun I had writing it. It was a no-brainer. I called him back and said, ‘You’re right, man. It has something, it feels passionate, and I would love to record this song.’ That’s what we did.
“Life, you never know,” said Billy. “As an artist—songs that you’re really connected with—they seem to find their way back to you, and I’m sure glad that this one did.”
The Georgia native has seen a lot of success over his career and is no stranger to sitting on a multi-week No. 1 hit. “Must Be Doing Something Right” and “People Are Crazy” both sat at No. 1 for two consecutive weeks and “Good Directions” held the top spot for three weeks. The success has allowed Billy to choose a lifestyle that fits his laid back manner and make him a better person.
“I definitely think the things that I’ve done have created more happiness—allowed me to be more creative in music and better at business all the way around. It’s also allowed me to spend more time with family and friends and just be at peace, to be more successful. That’s not speaking monetarily. Just be more successful in all aspects of my life, whether it’s the music —writing it or recording it or working with people in the business, whatever—trying to get better, definitely this whole thing that’s happened over time made it all better for me.”
Billy is currently keeping summer going on his Summer Forever Tour, which will wrap in the coming weeks. The last date is in Maui on Nov. 19, where the avid surfer can hit the waves before planning his next tour and begin working on his new album.
After 10 No. 1 hits, you would think that Billy Currington would be used to getting to the top of the country charts. But according to the “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” singer, the 11th time is just as sweet.
“It’s been a great past couple weeks,” Billy told Nash Country Daily from his tour bus during a stop in San Antonio, Texas. “This is what you dream of as an artist. You can only imagine how the whole team feels. They all feel the same. All number ones are very, very special. It just seems to only get better. It’s just something that’s part of the dream, and then when it happens you just sit back in amazement like, ‘Wow!’
Billy scored his 11th No. 1 single with “It Don’t Hurt Like it Used To,” which stayed in the top spot for two consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. Only five other country songs have accomplished that feat this year: Thomas Rhett’s “Die a Happy Man,” Luke Bryan’s “Home Alone Tonight” featuring Karen Fairchild, Cole Swindell’s “You Should Be Here,” Dierks Bentley’s “Somewhere on a Beach” and Keith Urban’s “Wasted Time.”
Co-penned by Billy, Shy Carter and Cary Barlowe, “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To” wasn’t something that Billy had set out to write.
“It wasn’t planned to meet up and do anything like that. That’s where I really come to appreciate the song myself because I don’t know where it all came from,” Billy recalls. “We all looked at each other, and within two hours, the song was done. It happened, and all the words fell out—just like you hear. Nothing was thought about like, ‘Maybe we should change this line?’ None of those things happened. It was just out of the sky.”
Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images
Months later, with the song far from his mind, Billy’s album was near completion but he had too many songs collected. He wasn’t looking for more, in fact, he was in the process of eliminating some. It was then that his manager reminded Billy of the song he wrote Shy and Cary earlier in the year.
“I just laughed, thinking, ‘Man, that thing probably ain’t no good,'” Billy said. “‘What’s it sound like?’ He said, ‘I’m gonna send you a copy of it. You need to take a listen to this.’ He sent me a copy and that was the first time I had heard the demo that we did from that night. It just put a big smile on my face and I was like, ‘I remember that.’ I remembered that feeling. It made me feel so good. I remembered how much fun I had writing it. It was a no-brainer. I called him back and said, ‘You’re right, man. It has something, it feels passionate, and I would love to record this song.’ That’s what we did.
“Life, you never know,” added Billy. “As an artist—songs that you’re really connected with—they seem to find their way back to you, and I’m sure glad that this one did.”
The Georgia native has seen a lot of success over his career and is no stranger to sitting on a multi-week No. 1 hit. “Must Be Doing Something Right” and “People Are Crazy” both sat at No. 1 for two consecutive weeks and “Good Directions” held the top spot for three weeks. The success has allowed Billy to choose a lifestyle that fits his laid back manner and make him a better person.
“I definitely think the things that I’ve done have created more happiness—allowed me to be more creative in music and better at business all the way around. It’s also allowed me to spend more time with family and friends and just be at peace, to be more successful. That’s not speaking monetarily. Just be more successful in all aspects of my life, whether it’s the music —writing it or recording it or working with people in the business, whatever—trying to get better, definitely this whole thing that’s happened over time made it all better for me.”
Billy is currently keeping summer going on his Summer Forever Tour, which will wrap in the coming weeks. The last date is in Maui on Nov. 19, where the avid surfer can hit the waves before planning his next tour and begin working on his new album.
On Sunday night (Oct. 16) the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum held its annual Medallion Ceremony to induct new HOF members Charlie Daniels, Randy Travis and songwriter/producer Fred Foster, who also founded Monument Records.
Monument Records also happens to be the company that published Dolly Parton’s 1967 debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, and her first country single, “Dumb Blonde,” which became a Top 20 hit. Fred, who produced Hello, I’m Dolly, spoke very highly of Dolly in the album’s liner notes: “Sometimes you just know and that makes up for all the times you had to guess.”
Before beginning her performance, Dolly said the following:
“If anybody deserves [a medallion], Fred, you do. You really gave me a shot. And you were a gentleman but Porter Wagoner stole me away. You really were a gentleman, but you started my life and you started me with my first record. You saw things in me that nobody else did, and I hope that I’ve made you proud. So many times, when I’m out on the road, thinking about what all has happened to me, I thank God, I thank the fans and I thank you. So, I just wanted to say congratulations and that I love you. And I’m gonna try and sing our song. It’s been 50 years or so. And it’s in a very high key. I may strain my milk, but I’m gonna try.”
Watch Dolly pay tribute to Fred with her performance of “Dumb Blonde” at the HOF ceremony.
Kane Brown – Full Track Listing with Songwriters:
