As uncertainty about current COVID situations affect all forms of life, Florida Georgia Line has announced that out of an abundance of caution they are canceling the remainder of their I Love My Country tour due to COVID-19.
FGL’s Tyler Hubbard shares, “There is nothing better than seeing all of your faces from the stage, feeling your good energy, and making memories together, we were hopeful we could get back on the road this fall, and are so bummed to have to cancel this tour, but we know in our hearts that we still have to make sure we’re keeping our fans and crew safe. It’s unfortunate that we have to cancel but we hope y’all understand. We love our fans and can’t wait to be back out when the time is right.”
FGL’s Brian Kelley adds, “Although we’ve been able to see some of y’all at shows recently, everyone’s continued safety has been weighing heavy on us. To our fans, band, crew, and all of the venues around the country, thank you for your love and support! We couldn’t do what we do without you, and we hope we can all do our part to bring live music back soon.”
For all current ticket holders, refunds will be issued to the original method of payment used at time of purchase. No action is required to obtain a refund.
Amazon Prime Video announced today that they are the new home for the Academy of Country Music Awards. The 57th ACM Awards will stream on the platform, making it the first major awards show to be exclusively live-streamed. The 2022 show will be produced by MRC’s Dick Clark Productions.
CBS had been the home of the ACM Awards since 1998, but their partnership ended earlier this year, leaving fans wondering where its next home would be. In a statement, the ACMs pointed out Amazon Prime quote “will also deliver invaluable new opportunities for country artists, enabling them to reach larger audiences.”
Outgoing ACM Board of Directors Chair Ed Warm shared, “This historic partnership with ACM, MRC, and Amazon Prime Video meets the industry’s need to bring awards shows to the forefront of the streaming world—exactly where fans are consuming and demanding content. It will also deliver invaluable new opportunities for country artists, enabling them to reach larger audiences and presenting them the Academy’s exceptionally entertaining and compelling show.”
Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside says, “We are thrilled that the Academy of Country Music Awards are first to take this giant step toward the future of awards shows with Amazon Prime Video. This partnership, which reinforces our position as an innovative, progressive awards show, will deliver the broadest possible audience and, simultaneously, deliver massive value to our artists whose music lives inside this ecosystem, enabling fans to discover and stream music as they watch.”
Vernon Sanders, co-head of television, Amazon Studios commented, “We’re excited to continue to expand our content offerings for Prime Video customers by being the exclusive home for the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022 and honoring the best in country music,” He added, “Reaching this milestone with our partners at the Academy of Country Music and MRC as the first major awards show to be livestreamed speaks to our dedication and commitment to continue to both entertain and innovate for our audience.”
MRC co-CEO Modi Wiczyk says, “We congratulate our partners at the Academy and Amazon for blazing a path for the future of live awards shows. Our team is excited to be part of the creative and entrepreneurial innovations that streaming technology will unleash.”
There is no confirmation on the date and location of the 2022 ACM Awards as of yet.
As Dan + Shay’s new album Good Things arrived for fans, they claimed the number-one song in country music with “Glad You Exist.”
The track started as a note in Dan Smyers phone as something he’d say to his wife to show his appreciation. As they worked on the song during the quarantine of 2020, Dan and Shay Mooney realized that the track came to mean so much more to them, and then everyone else who heard it.
When the uncertainty of the shutdown had everyone questioning the future, Dan had one simple hope for the song, “We kind of have this grand vision for whenever things get back to normal, and we can finally get back out there on the road…we want to be standing in the middle of the arena, turn all the house lights on, and this is just one big feel good sing-along.”
Well, they got that moment they wished for earlier this week during a concert in Nashville that was to celebrate the launch of their new album, Good Things.
Speaking of Good Things, Dan + Shay’s brand-new album made a bit of country music history as it is the first country album to ever be certified GOLD the week it was released.
Dan + Shay weren’t done with their amazing week. So, as Good Things is getting Gold, and “Glad You Exist” is topping the country airplay charts, “Steal My Love” was named the most added song on country music this week.
Talking about the track, Dan says, “Steal My Love is one of the most fun songs we ever recorded. Anybody we played it for…our wives, our friends, our family, our team…basically gets out of their chair and starts dancing when that first chorus hits. The song evolved through many many different iterations. It started out as just an acoustic guitar and a bunch of vocals, but then we added drums and then we added bass, we added keys and it just evolved into what it is we’re so proud of this tune and most importantly we can’t wait to get out and play it live on the arena tour.”
Soon after being named as the number-1 added song, the music video for “Steal My Love” dropped, and in 48 hours, garnered more than 5 million views, prompting the guys to message to their fans “y’all this is INSANE. thanks for watching!”
You can add to the view total right here…
The guys are now less than a month away from bringing all their new music along with fan favorite hits on the road on their Arena tour, which launches September 9th in South Carolina. Then, for 4 months the guys will make up for lost touring time by crisscrossing the nation making sure to let their fans know that Dan + Shay are glad they exist.
Keith Urban‘s new song shares his story in musical form.
Talking about the new track, Keith says “’Wild Hearts’ is a brand-new song of mine, and it’s fairly autobiographical. I’d say it’s mostly about following your heart, following your dreams and going for it no matter what anybody says. It’s about believing in yourself and shooting for the stars.”
Runaway June hits the road this weekend on Luke Bryan‘s Proud To Be Right Here tour, and they’ll have new music to play for fans as they release their EP, backstory.
Naomi Cooke, Natalie Stovall and Jennifer Wayne share “These three songs tell the stories and paint the picture of the heartbreak, joy & freedom that comes along with growing up & moving forward. They represent the road to loving yourself and ultimately someone else.”
backstory track list;
1) “Forgot About That” (Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne, Corey Crowder, Emily Shackelton)*
2) “Down The Middle” (Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne, Hannah Mulholland, Barry Dean, Tofer Brown)*
3) “T-Shirt” (Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne, Adam Hambrick, Mark Trussell)^
Baltimore, Md. – Tennessee redshirt senior quarterback Hendon Hooker was named to the 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list, as announced by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation on Thursday.
The Golden Arm Award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class. The semifinalists, finalists and award recipient are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers and former players. Candidates are chosen based on player performance on-and-off the field.
Hooker enters his first season with the Volunteers after joining the program in the spring as a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, where he played for four seasons and earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations last year.
During his time with the Hokies, Hooker played in 25 games and made 15 starts, compiling an 8-7 record as a starter. The Greensboro, North Carolina, native completed 197-of-312 passes for 2,894 yards with 22 touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 1,033 yards on 247 carries and 15 touchdowns on the ground during his career in Blacksburg.
Hooker comes from a family pedigree of quarterbacks, as his father, Alan, is enshrined in the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame after enjoying a stellar playing career with the Aggies. Hooker’s younger brother, Alston, followed in their father’s footsteps and is also playing quarterback at North Carolina A&T. Hooker is currently battling for the starting quarterback job for the Big Orange this season.
The 2021 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021.
To view the complete Golden Arm Award press release and watch list, click HERE (PDF).
