On Sept. 14, CBS This Morning announced the “early” winners of the ACM Award for Music Event of the Year: “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Miranda Lambert featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Tenille Townes, Ashley McBryde and Caylee Hammack.
Maren, Elle, Tenille, Ashley and Caylee were part of Miranda’s Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour in 2019. In September 2019, Miranda teamed with her tourmates to release a cover of “Fooled Around & Fell in Love,” a Top 5 hit for blues guitarist Elvin Bishop in 1976.
The ACM Awards will air live from Nashville on Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. The show will take place at three iconic Nashville institutions: the Grand Ole Opry House, The Bluebird Cafe and Ryman Auditorium. Keith Urban will host the show for the first time.
Previously announced winners from the ACM Awards include:
Music Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“10,000 Hours” – Dan + Shay featuring Justin Bieber
“Dive Bar” – Garth Brooks featuring Blake Shelton
“Fooled Around and Fell in Love” – Miranda Lambert featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Tenille Townes, Ashley McBryde and Caylee Hammack WINNER
Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
“What Happens in a Small Town” – Brantley Gilbert featuring Lindsay Ell
For the eighth consecutive year, Carrie Underwood starred in the show opening of NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Carrie kicked off SNF with a new recording of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” on Sept. 13.
Working within social-distancing parameters, the 2020 Sunday Night Football show open was produced with user-generated content from fans showcasing their team spirit. In addition, cameos from some of the NFL’s biggest stars were recorded remotely, including Carson Wentz, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott and more.
From 2013 to 2015, Carrie opened SNF with “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” which is based on Joan Jett’s “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” In 2019, Carrie recorded a new rendition of “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” that featured Joan Jett. The re-tooled song replaced “Game On,” which was featured during the 2018 season. Carrie opened SNF with “Oh, Sunday Night” during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, which was based on her 2014 duet with Miranda Lambert, “Somethin’ Bad.”
“Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” which was performed by Pink, was the original opening for SNF in 2006. Faith Hill replaced Pink from 2007 to 2012.
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 07, 2020 – Running back Ty Chandler #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
Ty Chandler, Sr., RB
On Tee Hodge …
“Tee (Hodge) is looking good, he’s a great individual. I’m excited to have him in the room. He brings a positive energy, a great running back overall and I’m looking forward to watching him grow and develop at the university.”
On if Eric Gray has made him a better running back …
“No doubt. Like they say, iron sharpens iron. I’m just grateful to be able to be in the room with him. He has a great skillset he brings to the game and he’s even taught me things. We talk about stuff all the time and we just feed off each other. I’m grateful to be able to go out there and compete with him. I feel like he gets me better, he gets the whole team better, I love it.”
On Coach Jay Graham …
“He brings a positive energy to the table. Just a great attitude overall, he’s taught me a lot about angles, taking on defenders and being able to read blocks, stuff of that nature. He’s improved my game a ton and helped me take it to the next level. Overall, a great mentor a great guy to learn from and I’ve enjoyed the time being with him.”
On the offensive line …
“I’m looking forward to working with those guys again; they’re a great group of guys. They come out every day and work hard. I’m grateful to be able to run behind them. They’re a bunch of big guys up front and I feel like we can build off and be even better than where we were last year. We are going to keep building and I’m looking forward to it. Those guys have been working their butts off and I’m excited to run behind them.”
On if the younger guys have to be ready to contribute …
“Everybody has to be ready to contribute, no matter what time it is. It could be anything. I see that happening – a lot of young guys stepping up being able to make plays down field. Young players always have to be ready to step up, it’s a rough time but everybody is staying positive about it and willing to work. That’s the main thing.”
On what he wanted to improve the most in the offseason …
“Me personally, I just wanted to be able to finish runs and just seeing different things such as read keys and holes. Just going out and being able to execute, playing consistent. That’s something I really wanted to improve on my game and even catching balls out of the backfield, just being able to take that to the next level is something I wanted to improve on and making people miss and stuff like that.”
On a practice with 44 players out …
“You know this whole time has been crazy. You have to take it for what it’s worth with a positive attitude and be ready to compete. I feel like if we bring that approach to every practice no matter the situation, I feel like we’ll be fine and I feel like that’s what we’ve done. We’ve gone out there ready to practice ready to get better and willing to take that next step to go forward and push this team to the level we know it can be at.”
On Jabari Small …
“Another great kid. I don’t want to call him a kid; he’s a great young man. He is very shifty and I’m happy to have him in the room as well. He’s learning great and picking up stuff well. He’s going to be a great player here and like I said, shifty little guy.”
On playing an SEC schedule …
“When you say all SEC schools, everyone knows what that means. It’s a grind week in and week out and I feel like that’s what everyone is looking forward to. It’s a lot of competition and that’s what gets you better. We are looking forward to it. I’m up for the challenge, the team is up for the challenge so we just feel good.”
On being a senior and his comfort into a vocal leadership role …
“I have to be. It’s growing on me – just the ability to speak up and help other people. That’s something that’s definitely growing on me. I am comfortable doing it. I take on that challenge to speak up more and make sure people are doing the right things. If someone needs help or doesn’t know what to do, I’m there trying to give my input and my knowledge to them and help them grow and develop as a player from my different experiences being on the field. I’m happy to help anytime I can just speaking up more and stepping out of my comfort zone.”
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 07, 2020 – Wide receiver Brandon Johnson #7 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
Brandon Johnson, R-Sr., WR
On if it’s been hard getting down timing and building chemistry with guys being out of practice…
“I wouldn’t say we’ve had issues doing that. I think we’ve done a great job of filling in where we need to fill in and also with that playing at a high level. I think that everybody in the receiver core, they come to practice every day ready to go. So therefore, let’s say a receiver drops down, there’s no drop off in the level of play. Everybody is playing hard, so that kind of allows us to have the same kind of timing just in case somebody is out for whatever reason.”
On the team morale over the past few days with certain players being unable to practice…
“I’d say the team morale has been high. I don’t think it’s really hurt what we have going. We kind of knew what we were getting into during this pandemic and we kind of knew that at certain periods of time different people may be out for X reasons. So, I feel like everybody was ready for it. I think the team morale is high because I just think everybody was ready for things that may happen.”
On how the freshmen wide receivers are pushing the older guys and what he’s seen out of QB Jarrett Guarantano…
“As far as the freshmen go, all the freshmen look really good. The future is super bright for all the freshmen. As far as pushing us, they’re pushing us to compete on a high level every day. Also, they’re challenging our leadership because with freshmen comes a certain level of leadership. You have to be able to bring young guys along, show them the ropes, teach them the right way to go about certain things. I really think the future is really bright for all the freshmen that came in.
“As far as Jarrett (Guarantano), he’s become such a great leader amongst the team. He has the respect of everybody on the team and I just can’t wait to see what he does this season.”
On what it’s been like for him mentally after not playing for a year and how he thinks he’s a better player…
“As far as sitting out for a year, it wasn’t fun sitting back and watching my teammates go to battle every game last season. But now that I’m in it and now that we’re getting so close to game time, I’m just excited. I can’t wait to go. I think that time off really just helped me take a step back and look at the game from the outside in, so to speak. It really allowed me to kind of get my game in order as far as mentally, really mentally. Working on the physical aspect as well, routes. You can never stop working in the game of football. There’s so much you can do to improve yourself, rather it be mentally or physically, so I’ve just been working all around.”
On how he’s seen defensive backs Bryce Thompson and Alontae Taylor grow and what it’s like to go against them every day in practice…
“It’s crazy to see their growth. Those are just really smart players. They’re pointing out different things and you just love to see their growth because right now the way they’re looking, they’re looking like some of the top DBs in the country. It’s been cool to go up against those guys every day and just to watch their improvement up close. It’s been really cool to see.”
On if it’s been challenging to keep everyone focused with so many things going on outside of football…
“I wouldn’t say it’s been too challenging just because I feel like everybody came in to camp with the right mindset. I think that goes a long way, so it hasn’t really been too challenging for guys in a leadership role just because I feel like everybody kind of has their head on straight and they know what goal we’re trying to reach.”
On how he has had to change his approach now that he’s being looked to for leadership…
“You just really have to be conscious of how you may carry yourself. Like you said, you are being watched at all times, so you have to be conscious of how you carry yourself and what kind of effort you’re giving. You can’t really tell anybody to do anything that you aren’t doing yourself, so that’s one thing. You kind of have to lead by example as well as being a motivator.”
On if anything about his game has changed since last season…
“I would say just my confidence level. Confidence level. That’s probably the No. 1 thing. I’m so excited just to get back out there and play man. I can’t wait.”
On if that confidence comes from sitting back and watching last season…
“I would say a lot of that comes from sitting back and watching a little bit. You look at things from a different standpoint when you’re not actually in it. Maybe you’ll be sitting back and looking at other guys you may be able to realize, ‘OK, this works. Maybe this works. Different things like that.’ So, I really think sitting back for a little while definitely kind of helped me improve my game.”
On his confidence level that Tennessee will be ready to go for the season opener…
“I’m confident we’ll all be ready by the time the game rolls around. Like I said, everybody has the right mindset. It’s kind of like a next man up mindset. People have learned to be adaptable to play different positions – offense, defense – so I’m confident we’ll be more than ready come the 26th.”
On if he feels like his decision to redshirt last season will end up being the right one…
“I’m definitely confident it will turn out to be the right decision for me. It wasn’t just a decision for myself, it was a decision for my team. I felt like I’d be better suited to help my team out this year and I don’t regret anything, so I’m pretty excited.”
Vols K Brent Cimaglia / Credit: San Forman – 99.1 The Sports Animal
as a specific kick that made him realize he’d be a successful collegiate kicker…
“Not really, no. I go out there, even if it’s an extra point or a 50-plus-yard field goal, I have the same mentality with each field goal. I just want to make it and put my team above the other team. I kick each ball with one mentality – like this is my first kick and I’m going to make it. I don’t think about any other kick at all.”
On team morale through the pandemic…
“The team overall, we’re all really close. For us the morale really didn’t change. We have a goal and that’s for us to get set for South Carolina and we’re going to do that each and every day. The senior class, we stepped us as leaders. We pushed everybody. So I’d say the morale never changed.”
On communicating with players that have been quarantined…
“We’re all a close bunch and talk every day, even if it’s to check up on them like, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ We’re always on a Zoom call or texting or calling each other.”
On the special teams unit…
“I think overall the specialist unit, it’s going to be a good year for us. We have Paxton Brooks returning – he’s a great punter and kick off specialist. We have Joe (Doyle) who brings a good morale to the group. We also have Brett Graham that transferred in and he’s a good character to have. It’s going to be very competitive in each position, even with long snappers. We’re all kind of an older bunch, but with the long snappers, there are a bunch of young guys stepping in and I’m very confident that they’re going to get their job done. I’m excited to what this unit holds for us.”
On if he’s expanded his range during the offseason…
“I tell Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt every game day, ‘ ‘Cross the 50 and I’m good.’ I want to attempt it. For me, each year I want to improve on something in distance and accuracy and being very consistent is one of them. I’m very confident in the field goal unit from snap to hold, that we’ll get it down and wherever we attempt it, we’ll make it. I did hit one from 60 at Neyland last week.”
On how many more players need to be ready to step in because of COVID…
“I don’t pay attention to stuff. I focus on what I can control. As you can tell, there’s a lot of uncertainty with this COVID stuff and the season. But, funny story, I was talking to my dad yesterday and he said, ‘We can only control the controllables. We have to stand firm in our face and trust God because everything that is happening now is happening for a purpose and a reason.’ I truly believe that so right now I’m just going to control the controllables and get ready for South Carolina.”
On the nickname ‘Automaglia Cimaglia’…
“It’s a cool name, but I want to be something for than just a nickname or a saying. I want to go out there for a bigger reason and a bigger purpose. I don’t dive into all of that. It’s more about the Power T on the jersey than the last name. So I never really dove into all that.”
On if Joe Doyle returning was a surprise…
“Yeah, it was a surprise. Joe’s a great athlete and obviously a great friend. I’ve been with him every year I’ve been here. It’s just great to have him back. The personality and character he brings to the unit – he comes in every day with a smile. I love his work mentality. He doesn’t take a day off. It’s always a work day for him. Honestly, it’s good to have that around. It builds up confidence, not only in me, but all of the other specialists.”
On if kickers are less affected by not scrimmaging…
“Scrimmages are nice for us because it gets us ready for what game-day scenarios will be like, but personally for me, I’m game day ready every day. I don’t go out there just to kick to kick. I go out there to be game ready. So the scrimmages are helpful, but practices are also helpful because they hone it what I’m doing in trying to prepare for South Carolina.”
On if he worked with anyone back home…
“I didn’t have a field to kick on when I went back home. I was kicking, basically in a ditch in an open field and I was kicking toward the light post. My dad helped me out a lot – he was out there every day I kicked. I also sent film to Dan Orner a few days, just getting a recap of what I need help with. That time home and that time sitting in a ditch brought me back to my roots. It made football fun again. It’s honestly not about where you are, it’s doing what you love. Honestly, I had fun with it every day. In Florida, they have these big ditches. You couldn’t put a football field out there, but it was funny we went into Home Depot and we bought a little handheld grass cutter. We cut little squares where I can kick the ball without getting too much grass. But yeah, a ditch.”
Tennessee redshirt-junior guard Victor Bailey Jr. met with the media on Friday afternoon to discuss the upcoming season.
On feeling more comfortable running the point:
“That year sitting out for me was good, it was a struggle because it’s hard to watch my teammates play. I was able to sit down and watch tape and watch film of (Jordan) Bone and get to see Santi and those guys run the point and do it everyday in practice. It helped a lot.”
On if the point will be his primary position:
“I think it’s still a combo, I can still do both. Whatever coach asks me to do at this point I can do it, which I feel comfortable being able to say.”
On the factors that led him to Tennessee:
“To me it was the culture, the first day I got here and seeing how our guys were working every day, seeing how invested the coaches were in the players and the process. Sitting down with (Garrett Medenwald) and seeing how meticulous and serious he was in guys getting better. I was sold the first day I got here.”
On the demand Rick Barnes places on point guards:
“Coach is definitely tough but he just wants to get the best out of you. I’ve heard Bone say it plenty of times, he’s tough but he just wants the best out of you. He’s going to get it, he is great at pulling the best out of you when he needs it. Sitting out really helped me get it under my belt and learn what he wants and when he wants you to put your foot on the gas and take it off. Facilitate and not facilitate and do stuff like that.”
On if there was surprise at how quickly the program took off under Coach Barnes:
“I wasn’t surprised at all to see those guys in the Sweet 16 and doing well, because Coach Barnes is obviously a great coach and knows what he is doing. How it all came back around full circle was definitely incredible, I didn’t think I would be here. It definitely happened fast, but I’m really blessed to be in the position I am.”
On how the relationship with Barnes developed:
“I didn’t go to any camps, but I was always around campus. I saw Barnes a lot and always wanted to watch the games and see what was going on with Texas because my mom was a coach and I wanted to be a part of that culture, that Texas culture and obviously Barnes was a part of that, so keeping in touch with them was big.
On how much he learned about the Tennessee basketball program last year going through practice:
“We go 100 every day. You can’t take days off, you take days off and you’ll be behind. That’s just the facts. You’ve got to come every single day ready to go and you can’t take any days off and go 100 percent every time you can.
On the transition from the Pac 12 to the SEC and his excitement level to play SEC basketball:
“I am very excited, it’s a great conference and the things that I kind of had to do was I had to get stronger. I remember being at the Sweet 16 and watching Tennessee walk past us in the tunnel and seeing how big and strong those guys looked. Getting in with G and getting my body right to prepare for the SEC season was big for me.”
On learning from Lamonte Turner:
“I learned so much, I watched so much film on him and he was great at talking with me and giving me so much information. I think that was one of the big things, he never hid anything from me or kept anything from me. Anytime I asked a question he gave it to me. I really thank him for it because he really helped me a lot.”
On who was the most intimidating walking by in the tunnel at the Sweet 16:
“(Admiral) Schofield looked pretty upset, I would probably go with Schofield. Barnes didn’t look very happy either.”
On his priorities during last season, what he really wanted to improve:
“Understanding. I wanted to understand everything about Tennessee and immerse myself in the culture and be a part of it and not look back. Give my all to Tennessee and that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
On what he believes is the Tennessee basketball culture:
“Hard workers. From the coaches to the managers to the GA’s to everybody. Everybody is just always working and trying to help each other out and you can feel that right when you walk in. When I walked in I felt it, I felt like everybody wants to get better and everybody had a common goal. I really enjoy being around that.”
On what he feels is the biggest strength he brings to the team:
“Being one of the older guys. I have a couple of college games under my belt. I know how it feels. I know there’s ups and downs and I know being one of the older guys I can help the younger guys out because they’re so talented. I think being one of the older guys is just going to help me a lot.”
On competition in practice and how it’s helping everyone:
“When you go anywhere that is good, you’re going to have a lot of talented guys around you. We have a saying here ‘iron sharpens iron.’ So, guys are constantly trying to push each other to get better and at the end of the day that’s all we want to do. It’s easy to do that when you have guys that are so talented, because it forces you to be at your best every day.”
On how many guys are able to play the point guard position:
“A lot. All of us can handle the ball. All of us are smart guys and understand what needs to happen. Coach Barnes is really vocal about what he wants to happen, so you’re not questioning what he wants. He’s really up front about it and as long as guys can take care of the ball, I think anyone can do it.”
On what he’s seen from Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer:
“I think they’ll be great from day one. Those guys are really talented, there’s a reason why they are who they are. They’re very talented guys, they’re young and they have fresh legs. It’s always great to have fresh legs coming in as a freshman and you can see it. They’re bouncy and they’re ready to go, so I’m excited to see what they can do.”
On Yves Pons coming back and what it means to have him back this season:
“He’s the defensive player of the year. That’s it right there. He’s such a help for us on the defensive end and he’s really building his offensive game to where he can be a two-way player. He’s talented and the reason why he was going back-and-forth, is because he’s a beast and can do it all. So, we’re glad to have him back and we’re so much better because of him.”
On who he’s seen that is going to make the biggest jump and surprise people this season:
“I think (Josiah-Jordan James) will do really well. I’ve seen a little difference in him. A difference in how he’s worked and approached things, that I think Josiah will really have a good season.”
On staying in Yves’ ear to edge him towards coming back to Tennessee:
“Absolutely. Everyone knew how much we wanted him to come back, so you’ve got to throw it in there a little bit. But, he’s still his own man, so we wanted him to able to make the decision for himself. Whatever he decided, we were going to be happy for him, because he’s a brother and we love him. But, for him to come back, that made everyone happy.”
On how the team found out Yves was coming back and what the reaction was like:
“I think we found out before practice one day. Everyone was excited. Everyone was smiling and talking about it and everyone was glad to have him back, because we need him.”
On what the potential of this team is defensively:
“Great. The guards in the backcourt can guard. We have the Defensive Player of the Year, so that does it there. (John Fulkerson) can guard. Fulky is smart. The freshmen can guard. I can guard. Everyone can guard. So, I think defensively we’re going to be a really good team. (Mike) Schwartz has done a great job of talking to us and making sure we know where, we’re supposed to be and he’s one of the best defensive coaches in the country I think. I think with all of that put together, we’re going to be one of the best defensive teams in the country.”
On what it is about the culture of Tennessee basketball that so many guys understand:
“You know you’re going to get better. You don’t really have an option. You either get better or you’re going to be watching and no one wants to be watching. Everybody is pushing everybody and everybody wants to get better, because that’s the culture and either you buy in or you won’t be a part of it.”
On what the team stance is on Santiago Vescovi’s hair:
“Santi can do whatever he wants. He’s a player.”
On the culture being off the floor and all of the guys seem to have many of the same values:
“A lot of the things we do, we do together. We eat together, we hang out together, so we have a lot of like-minded guys who have the same goals. When you have a lot of guys who want the same thing, think the same way and do a lot of the same things together, that’s how you build a culture and get things going towards the right direction.”
The Academy of Country Music announced that Taylor Swift will perform at the ACM Awards on Sept. 16.
Taylor, a two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year, will perform her current country single, “Betty,” at the Grand Ole Opry House. Penned by Taylor and William Bowery, “Betty” is featured on Taylor’s recent No. 1 album, Folklore. The world premiere performance of “Betty” will mark Taylor’s first gig at the ACM Awards in seven years.
The ACM Awards will air live from Nashville on Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. The show will take place at three iconic Nashville institutions: the Grand Ole Opry House, The Bluebird Cafe and Ryman Auditorium. Keith Urban will host the show for the first time.
Previously announced performers include Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Riley Green, Tenille Townes, Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi, Eric Church, Mickey Guyton, Morgan Wallen, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Florida Georgia Line, Trisha Yearwood and Luke Bryan.
The Grand Ole Opry tallied its 4,941st consecutive Saturday night broadcast on Sept. 12 with a showcase featuring Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Riley Green and Mark Wills.
During the show, Tenille and Riley were presented with ACM Awards for New Female Vocalist of the Year and New Male Vocalist of the Year, respectively. In August, the Academy of Country Music revealed Tenille and Riley as two “early” winners from the upcoming 55th ACM Awards, which will air live from Nashville on Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
From the Opry stage on Saturday night, Mark presented Riley with his award, while Ashley presented Tenille with her award.
“It’s such an honor,” said Riley. “I really never even dreamed of something like this happening. A lot of people helped to get me where I am today. My entire team in Nashville, all my family and friends back home for all their support, the fans, country radio, and most importantly the two men that inspired this last song I’m going to play, Buford Green and Lendon Bonds, ‘I Wish Grandpas Never Died.’”
“Such an honor to follow in your footsteps and call you a friend, Ashley,” said Tenille. “It really is just a great joy to get to do this thing I love to do. It’s a dream to get to remember this moment here on the Grand Ole Opry stage and it is an honor to be a part of this country music community.”
The ACM Awards will take place on Sept. 16 at three iconic Nashville institutions: the Grand Ole Opry House, The Bluebird Cafe and Ryman Auditorium. Keith Urban will host the show for the first time.
