Despite More Successful Nominees Cole Swindell and Kelsea Ballerini, CMA Voters Got It Right With Maren Morris as New Artist of the Year

The CMA New Artist of the Year award is a tricky one. According to the criteria, it’s awarded to an individual or a group that has for the first time demonstrated the most significant creative growth and development in overall chart and sales activity, live performance professionalism and critical media recognition. Here’s where it gets…MORE

Runaway June, Lindsay Ell and Lindi Ortega Make One Hell of a Backup Band For Carrie Underwood

There was a plethora of collaborations during the 50th annual CMA Awards last night (Nov. 2), but none more energizing than Carrie Underwood’s performance of her current single, “Dirty Laundry,” backed up by some of country’s hottest female newcomers. If you weren’t paying attention, you may not have noticed Carrie’s awesome backup band. But if…MORE

Willie Nelson Plays “Three Ridiculous Questions” with Jimmy Kimmel [Watch]

Following the 50th Annual CMA awards last night (Nov. 2) on ABC, Willie Nelson stopped by Jimmy Kimmel’s bar on Jimmy Kimmel Live to spend some quality time with the late night talk show host and enjoy a Crown Royal cocktail (see recipe below). Jimmy was celebrating country’s biggest night with a star-studded list of…MORE

Blake Shelton Absent From CMA Awards; Best Guess Is He’s Still in a Tree Stand

Last night’s golden anniversary celebration may have been the biggest CMA Awards Show of all-time, but one of country music’s biggest stars was noticeably absent: Blake Shelton. Sure, he wasn’t nominated in any categories this year, but that didn’t stop artists like Jason Aldean, Jennifer Nettles and Martina McBride from attending and performing. Our best…MORE

Can Garth and Trisha Duet? You Bet Your Sweet Bippy They Can [Watch]

Before he copped the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award last night (Nov. 2), Garth Brooks performed a medley of noteworthy duets with wife Trisha Yearwood, including “Jackson,” ‘Chug-a-Lug,” “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” “(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden,” “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and “Golden Ring.” On…MORE

Keith Urban Looks Forward to Ending The Year At Home in His Own Bed

Keith Urban may have come away empty handed last night (Nov. 2) at the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards show—nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of Year, Album of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of they Year with Carrie Underwood— but he has nothing to be “Blue” about. The singers current single,…MORE

Upset of the Year as Brothers Osborne Take Home CMA Vocal Duo of the Year

If the Brothers Osborne were boxers, they wouldn’t have even been given a puncher’s chance to defeat three-time defending champions Florida Georgia Line for CMA Vocal Duo of the Year. But not only did the Brothers floor FGL, they also knocked out Dan + Shay, Joey + Rory and Maddie & Tae to take home…MORE

Watch Randy Travis Own the CMA Stage With a Single “Amen”

It was a star-studded opening to the CMA Awards Show last night as more than a dozen stars kicked off the telecast with a medley of some of country music’s biggest hits, including: Vince Gill with Ben Haggard on “Mama Tried”; Roy Clark and Brad Paisley on “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail”; Carrie…MORE

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Eric Church Announces 2025 Free The Machine North American Tour

Eric Church Announces 2025 Free The Machine North American Tour

On Wednesday (April 30), Eric Church announced the dates and details of his 2025 Free The Machine Tour of North America. The 22-date arena tour starts in Pittsburgh on September 12 and finishes in Los Angeles on November 15, hitting cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, and Seattle along the way. Church will be joined by…

Jessi Alexander Shares Her Journey From Fledgling Artist To Hit Country Songwriter

Jessi Alexander Shares Her Journey From Fledgling Artist To Hit Country Songwriter

Prior to being honored during Variety’s Power of Women: Nashville event, Jessi Alexander spoke with the publication about her journey from fledgling artist to blockbuster country songwriter. Alexander broke gender stereotypes in the Music Row writers’ rooms by penning chart-topping hits like Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Miranda Lambert’s “Things That Break,” Blake Shelton’s…

Minority Stake In Morgan Wallen’s Catalog Sold By Big Loud For $200 Million

Minority Stake In Morgan Wallen’s Catalog Sold By Big Loud For $200 Million

Nashville-based label Big Loud, home to Morgan Wallen, has reportedly sold a minority stake in the country superstar’s master recordings to Chord Music Partners for over $200 million. The deal is for a minority holding in Wallen’s first three studio albums, which includes his blockbuster 2023 double album, One Thing at a Time. The deal…

Chase McDaniel Shares Insight Into His Debut Radio Single, “Burned Down Heaven”

Chase McDaniel Shares Insight Into His Debut Radio Single, “Burned Down Heaven”

Chase McDaniel believes that listening to music in real-time can have a significant impact on listeners, rather than letting an algorithm choose what they hear. The new country artist recalls three life-changing moments he’s had while hearing songs on country radio, and McDaniel hopes his first radio single, “Burned Down Heaven,” has a similar effect…