Charley Pride’s “American Masters” PBS Documentary Is Streaming for Free for a Limited Time

Charley Pride’s “American Masters” PBS Documentary Is Streaming for Free for a Limited Time

Posted on December 15, 2020

American Masters – Charley Pride: I’m Just Me is streaming for free through Dec. 26 via PBS and the PBS Video app.

The film, which is narrated by Tanya Tucker, originally aired on PBS in 2019. It chronicles Charley’s improbable journey to country stardom, from his humble beginnings as a sharecropper’s son on a cotton farm in Mississippi and his career as a Negro League baseball player. The film includes interviews with Charley, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Marty Stuart, Whoopi Goldberg and more.

Charley, 86, died on Dec. 12, 2020, in Dallas, Texas, due to complications from Covid-19. A three-time Grammy winner, Charley is considered country music’s first African-American superstar. He signed to RCA Victor in 1967 and earned a string of No. 1 hits, including “All I Have to Offer You (Is Me),” “(I’m So) Afraid of Losing You Again,” “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” “Amazing Love” and many more. Charley won the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1971 and Top Male Vocalist in 1971 and 1972. Charley became the Grand Ole Opry’s first African-American member in 1993. Charley was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. He received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 for outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording. Charley was presented with the 2020 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in Nashville at the 54th CMA Awards on Nov. 11.

Watch the film’s trailer below.

photo by TCD

Watch Chris Young Honor Charley Pride by Singing “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” on the Opry

Watch Chris Young Honor Charley Pride by Singing “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” on the Opry

Posted on December 15, 2020

The Grand Ole Opry tallied its 4,954th consecutive Saturday night broadcast on Dec. 12 with a showcase featuring Scotty McCreery, Brett Young, Dennis Quaid and Chris Young.

Earlier in the day on Dec. 12, news broke that Charley Pride, 86, died in Dallas, Texas, due to complications from Covid-19.

Chris Young decided to honor Charley during his Opry performance by singing “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’.” Penned by Ben Peters, “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” became Charley’s signature hit. He released the tune in 1971, scoring his eighth No. 1 single.

Watch Chris’ performance below.

photo by TCD

The Highwomen, John Prine & More Win 2020 Americana Awards

The Highwomen, John Prine & More Win 2020 Americana Awards

Posted on December 15, 2020

The Americana Music Association announced the winners of the 2020 Americana Honors & Awards on Dec. 15.

Winners included The Highwomen (Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Duo/Group of the Year), the late John Prine (Artist of the Year), Black Pumas (Emerging Act of the Year) and Brittany Haas (Instrumentalist of the Year).

John Prine, 73, died on April 7, 2020, from complications of COVID-19.

The ceremony is usually the centerpiece of AmericanaFest, which typically features more than 100 artists performing at different venues throughout Nashville. However, this year’s AmericanaFest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Next year’s AmericanaFest dates have been set for Sept. 21–26, 2021.

See the full list of winners and nominees below.

Album of the Year
“And It’s Still Alright,” Nathaniel Rateliff, Produced by James Barone, Patrick Meese and Nathaniel Rateliff
“Country Squire,” Tyler Childers, Produced by David Ferguson and Sturgill Simpson
“The Highwomen,” The Highwomen, Produced by Dave Cobb WINNER
“Jaime,” Brittany Howard, Produced by Brittany Howard
“While I’m Livin’,” Tanya Tucker, Produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings

Artist of the Year
Brandi Carlile
Brittany Howard
John Prine WINNER
Tanya Tucker
Yola

Duo/Group of the Year
Black Pumas
Drive-By Truckers
The Highwomen WINNER
Buddy & Julie Miller
Our Native Daughters

Emerging Act of the Year
Black Pumas WINNER
Katie Pruitt
Aubrie Sellers
Billy Strings
Kelsey Waldon

Instrumentalist of the Year
Ellen Angelico
Annie Clements
Brittany Haas WINNER
Zachariah Hickman
Rich Hinman

Song of the Year
“And It’s Still Alright,” Nathaniel Rateliff, Written by Nathaniel Rateliff
“Bring My Flowers Now,” Tanya Tucker, Written by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth and Tanya Tucker
“Crowded Table,” The Highwomen, Written by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Lori McKenna WINNER
“My Love Will Not Change,” Aubrie Sellers featuring Steve Earle, Written by Billy Burnette and Shawn Camp
“Stay High,” Brittany Howard, Written by Brittany Howard
“Thoughts and Prayers,” Drive-By Truckers, Written by Patterson Hood

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Sam Hunt Indicted by Grand Jury on DUI & Open Container Charges

Sam Hunt Indicted by Grand Jury on DUI & Open Container Charges

Posted on December 15, 2020

Sam Hunt has been indicted by a Davidson County (Tennessee) grand jury to face charges of DUI and an open container violation. Sam was arrested for driving under the influence and having an open container in Nashville on Nov. 21, 2019.

The indictment means there is probable cause to charge Sam with a crime(s). Court records note that the case has been transferred to Criminal Court.

According to the arrest warrant, police were notified that a driver was traveling the wrong way on a Nashville road. Officers located the vehicle going the wrong way and pulled the car over. The driver, identified as Sam Hunt, had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. A field sobriety test was administered. Sam had a blood alcohol content of .173. The legal limit in Tennessee is below .08.

Sam released a statement via Twitter on Nov. 22, 2019, saying: “Wednesday night I decided to drive myself home after drinking at a friend’s show in downtown Nashville. It was a poor and selfish decision and I apologize to everyone who was unknowingly put at risk and let down by it. It won’t happen again.”

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Jimmie Allen to Perform at “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” Event on Dec. 31

Jimmie Allen to Perform at “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” Event on Dec. 31

Posted on December 15, 2020

Jimmie Allen will help ring in 2021 as part of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve event in New York’s Times Square on Dec. 31.

Jimmie will be joined by artists Billy Porter, Cyndi Lauper and headliner Jennifer Lopez.

Ryan Seacrest will host the five-plus-hour event from New York City, while Lucy Hale and Billy Porter will handle emcee duties in NYC, and Ciara will call the shots from Hollywood. This year’s broadcast event is closed to the public

In 2018, Jimmie released his debut album, Mercury Lane, which features No. 1 hits “Best Shot” and “Make Me Want To.” Jimmie released a new collaborative EP, Bettie James, in July 2020. The seven-song EP features a host of guest artists, including Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Noah Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim McGraw.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve begins live from New York City at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Watch Garth Brooks Perform “Shallow” With Kelly Clarkson

Watch Garth Brooks Perform “Shallow” With Kelly Clarkson

Posted on December 15, 2020

Garth Brooks stopped by The Kelly Clarkson Show on Dec. 14 to chat with the titular host and perform a few songs, including his new single, “Shallow.”

The new single, which Garth duets with wife Trisha Yearwood, is featured on his new album, Fun. However, Kelly Clarkson filled in for Trisha—since she was not in attendance on Monday’s show—as Garth sang and provided guitar accompaniment.

Penned by Lady Gaga, Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and Mark Ronson for the 2018 movie, A Star is Born, “Shallow” was recorded as a duet by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The tune garnered widespread critical acclaim and netted numerous awards.

Before recording the song for Fun, Garth and Trisha performed “Shallow” during his Facebook Live series, Inside Studio G, in March, with an encore during their CBS TV special a few days later on April 1.

Watch Garth and Kelly sing “Shallow” below.

photos: Kelly Clarkson by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com; Garth Brooks by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Gabby Barrett Reaches Billboard Chart Milestone as “I Hope” Spends 20th Week at No. 1

Gabby Barrett Reaches Billboard Chart Milestone as “I Hope” Spends 20th Week at No. 1

Posted on December 15, 2020

Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope” is No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart (streaming, sales and airplay-based) for the 20th week, which is the longest run by a solo female artist in the history of the chart.

“I Hope” surpassed Maren Morris’ “The Bones,” which reigned for 19 weeks atop the chart. The longest run on the Hot Country Songs chart is Bebe Rexha’s “Meant to Be,” featuring Florida Georgia Line, which spent 50 weeks at No. 1 in 2017-2018.

Penned by Gabby, Zachary Kale and Jon Nite, “I Hope” is featured on Gabby’s 2020 debut album, Goldmine. “I Hope” topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart in April.

Gabby’s “I Hope” won the Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2020 CMT Music Awards, while also garnering nominations at the 2020 CMA Awards, ACM Awards and American Music Awards. “I Hope” is also the No. 1 song on Billboard’s 2020 Year-End charts for Hot Country Songs, Country Digital Song Sales and Country Streaming Songs.

Listen to Gabby’s “I Hope,” featuring Charlie Puth.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Lady Vols add game at No. 15 Indiana

Lady Vols add game at No. 15 Indiana

Posted on December 14, 2020
Rennia Davis – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee women’s basketball team has added a road game at Indiana to its schedule this week.

The Lady Vols (3-1) and 15th-ranked Hoosiers (2-1) will meet in a 4 p.m. ET contest on Thursday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus.

UT and Indiana have played only one time previously, meeting in the Communiplex Classic in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Nov. 27, 1987. No. 1/3 Tennessee cruised to a 91-52 victory on that occasion. The Lady Vols carry a 79-14 all-time record vs. current members of the Big Ten Conference into Thursday’s contest.

Indiana is directed by head coach Teri Moren, who is 129-75 in her seventh season with the Hoosiers and has guided them to five-straight 20-win campaigns. LVFL Briana (Bass) Schomaeker is the director of player development for IU.

The Hoosiers, who have been picked for the first time ever to win the Big Ten, return four starters and nine total letterwinners from a 2019-20 squad that posted a 24-8 overall record and 13-5 league mark to place fourth. The squad is led by a trio of players scoring in double figures, including 6-3 sophomore forward McKenzie Holmes (18.3 ppg.), 6-0 junior guard Grace Berger (17.0 ppg.) and 5-11 senior guard Ali Patberg (12.7 ppg.).Berger and Patberg were selected by the coaches and media to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team.

IU STATEMENT ABOUT FAN ATTENDANCE
Consistent with IU Athletics’ ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of students, coaches, staff, spectators and the local community, all men’s and women’s basketball games scheduled at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall will be played without fans indefinitely. IU Athletics’ decision is in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and is consistent with what has transpired on all Big Ten campuses during the 2020 football season.

IU Athletics will continue to work with local and state health officials, the Big Ten and campus leadership to determine if and when fans will be permitted to attend men’s and women’s basketball games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall during the 2020-21 season.

-UT Athletics

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