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'Take Me There' for In-N-Out and golf: Rascal Flatts' hidden ACM agenda

Posted today at 5:00am

ACM Group of the Year nominees (Academy of Country Music)

Music City relocates to Sin City for the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards this weekend.

While it's about trophies and performances for some, for Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney, his mind immediately goes somewhere else — like the drive-thru.

"First off, they have In-N-Out Burger," he says. "Just recently, I think one opened up somewhere north of Nashville, but I've yet to go to it. But In-N-Out Burger is so dang good. And anytime we get out that way out West, we always try to hit that."

In addition to potentially picking up a Double-Double, Joe Don has dreams on par with lots of other duffers and part-time pros.

"The golf is just amazing in Vegas," he adds. "And the ACMs used to have a golf event every year, and we used to take advantage of that for sure, because it was so much fun to play and meet new people, and of course, get to play with some other fellow artists."

"[We've] got a picture somewhere, [of] me and Gary [LeVox] and Kix Brooks and Blake Shelton," he continues. "And Blake has his blue jeans on, and they're rolled up to his knees, almost like knickers that you'd wear playing golf. And I thought that was amazing. Like the guy just wears blue jeans everywhere."

Rascal Flatts go into the 61st ACMs with their 14th nomination for group of the year.

Tune in to see who wins starting Sunday at 8 p.m. ET live from MGM Grand Garden Arena on Prime Video.

Nashville notes: Lauren Alaina's 'Stages' + Zach John King 'Get[s] to Drinkin'' on tour

Posted yesterday at 3:00pm

Ashley McBryde, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Shaboozey, The War And Treaty, TJ Osborne and Michael Bublé are set to present at Sunday's 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, along with sports stars Andrew Whitworth, Carl Edwards, Corey LaJoie and Ryan Fitzpatrick. You can stream the show starting at 8 p.m. ET via Prime Video.

Lauren Alaina's new album, Stages, comes out Aug. 28 and features her top-25 hit "All My Exes" with Chase Matthew.

Zach John King will launch a headlining tour this fall named after his first top-25 hit, "Get to Drinkin'." It kicks off Oct. 1 in Indianapolis and wraps Nov. 6 in Lexington, Kentucky. Presales start Thursday, before tickets become available to the public on Friday.

'Little Miss Twain' steps onstage this summer, after Shania plays a dozen nights in London

Posted yesterday at 1:48pm

Shania Twain's 'Little Miss Twain' (Republic Records)

Shania Twain's seventh album, Little Miss Twain, hearkens back to her beginnings as "an eight-year-old singing late night at the bar" and is set to arrive July 24.

“A lot of Little Miss Twain is reflective of my teens, my roots as well as the energy of the rock and R&B I loved so much, but still with that Western twang,” she says. “Where I’m from you don’t go anywhere on a horse — you go on a snowmobile. I was dreaming about the Western lifestyle and I was living in a very different world than where I ended up.”

The record's first single, "Dirty Rosie," is out now, ahead of her Sunday gig hosting the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Shania will preview the album with a 12-night stand at London's Wembley Stadium with Harry Styles. She'll cap that with a July 7 show at Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick City, Ireland.

Pop goes the country: Lainey Wilson's booked with Boston Pops

Posted yesterday at 1:00pm

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular (Courtesy Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Lainey Wilson will be spending America's 250th birthday with the Boston Pops.

The CMA and ACM entertainer of the year is set to sing with the respected orchestra for the first time as part of the 2026 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, alongside Chance The Rapper and Trombone Shorty.

The Saturday, July 4, event will take place at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade.

If you can make it to Boston, the show is free, and if you can't, you can stream the entire evening via the CNN app and CNN.com.

It runs from 7 until 9:30 p.m. ET and will include a revolutionary-themed drone show during the "1812 Overture," as well as a choreographed fireworks show.

Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce, Shaboozey & Ashley McBryde take center stage at Fan Fair X

Posted yesterday at 11:48am

CMA Fest's Fan Fair X (Country Music Association)

As CMA Fest 2026 approaches, the Country Music Association is revealing what's in store for Fan Fair X inside Music City Center.

From Thursday, June 4, through Sunday, June 7, the Nashville venue will be open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., giving fans one of their best chances to get closer to the stars they love.

Russell Dickerson will be Thursday's Artist of the Day, while Carly Pearce will do the honors on the CMA Close Up Stage on Friday. Shaboozey and Ashley McBryde take over on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Thursday will also bring Sound & Story: An Artist Exchange featuring Melissa Etheridge and Gretchen Wilson, with Legends & Friends with Clint Black following on Friday.

Saturday boasts both 40 Years of Randy Travis: Exploring the Icon's Legacy and Impact and The Last Take: Behind "On My Way to Heaven" with Tanya Tucker and Dennis Quaid.

Sunday features Up Close with Brandon Lake, the Christian/country crossover artist.

Both single-day tickets and four-day passes are on sale now.

The next preview of Cody Johnson's new album is 'Fool Proof'

Posted yesterday at 10:17am

Cody Johnson's 'Banks of the Trinity' (COJO Music/Warner Records Nashville)

The track list for Cody Johnson's Banks of the Trinity is out now, giving fans a preview of what they can look forward to when the album arrives June 26.

The 16-track collection includes a collaboration written especially for the CMA male vocalist of the year and Luke Combs titled "Shoot the Bull." Brothers Osborne pop up on "Fool Proof," which comes out Friday.

Cody wrote the album closer himself, "Yippy Ty Oh Hey Hey," and had a hand in the creation of "Time Bomb."

"Bible for a Boy" is dedicated to his son Jaycee Johnson, who was born Oct. 21.

You can check out the preview tracks, "Hello Lonesome" and "I Want You," now.

Here's the complete track listing for Cody Johnson's Banks of the Trinity:

"Horseback"
"Hello Lonesome"
"Fool Proof" (featuring Brothers Osborne)
"Take Me Back (Leave Me There)"
"Banks of the Trinity"
"I Want You"
"I Have"
"Bible for a Boy" (For Jaycee)
"Kissing a Married Woman"
"Every Man"
"Motel Miss You"
"Shoot the Bull" (featuring Luke Combs)
"Cricket on a Hook"
"Time Bomb"
"Thank Somebody Country"
"Yippy Ty Oh Hey Hey"

The CMA Awards have a home on ABC and Disney+ through 2032

Posted yesterday at 9:29am

The Country Music Association is extending its partnership with Disney for six more years, meaning annual specials like CMA Awards, CMA Fest and CMA Country Christmas will air on ABC through 2032.

The new contract adds an important new aspect, with the 2026 CMA Awards set to stream live on Disney+ for the first time ever.

“For two decades, Disney has been CMA’s partner in celebrating excellence in country music and bringing its artists and storytelling to audiences around the world,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern says in a news release. "Extending our collaboration with Disney and expanding the show to livestream on Disney+ marks an exciting next step for CMA, allowing us to reach new audiences while continuing our role in elevating and shaping the genre."

"As I prepare to retire at the end of the year," she continues, "ensuring CMA is strongly positioned for the future has remained one of my highest priorities, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. As we approach The 60th Annual CMA Awards this fall and a new chapter for CMA Fest in the new stadium in 2027, I’m excited for what’s ahead for both CMA and country music.”

The 60th CMAs will air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18, as construction on the new home for the Tennessee Titans continues.

The first CMA Awards were held in 1967, and the show has gone on to become the longest-running yearly music awards ceremony on broadcast TV.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Deep thoughts about the ACM Awards with Chris Stapleton

Posted yesterday at 5:00am

Chris Stapleton (Academy of Country Music)

Leave it to Chris Stapleton to wax philosophical about country music awards shows.

Of course, he does know a thing or two about the topic, since he's the most-nominated male artist at Sunday's 61st ACMs, with a chance to take home six more trophies.

"These things are fantastic things to win, but when you get nominated or invited to these kinda parties, in my estimation, you've already won and you've already gotten to be far beyond [what] anybody who's a musician could ever dream of getting to do," he reflects.

"As far as thinkin’ about goin’ into somethin’," he adds, "I'm always genuinely surprised to win anything and I'm always grateful for it."

So where does Stapleton keep his impressive trophy collection?

"Some of 'em, we put 'em out on the road in the VIP section for the fans to see," he answers. "That's who they belong to. ... I don't feel like they really belong to me. I don't have ‘em in my house or anything like that. I don't sit around making a shrine to myself or anything."

"We try to make sure that the fans get to see ‘em and enjoy ‘em as much as possible. Some of ‘em are in the Country Music Hall of Fame and places where they can be enjoyed by the people that got me to where I could earn them."

Stapleton's one of the rare ACM Triple Crown winners, having picked up new male, male and entertainer to earn the honor.

He could add his sixth male artist honor on Sunday, along with potential trophies for "A Song to Sing" with Miranda Lambert.

The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards stream live from Las Vegas Sunday on Prime Video.

Nashville notes: LAW at the ACMs + Luke Bryan & Friends at the Bridgestone

Posted Tuesday afternoon

Tickets for the Luke Bryan & Friends concert Sept. 24 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena go on sale Friday. Billed as a "one-of-a-kind show," it'll celebrate his new Signs album, which drops Sept. 18.

Chris Cagle's adding 17 new dates to his Play It Loud 25th Anniversary Tour, starting with his May 23 show at Paragon Casino in Marksville, Louisiana.

Lee Ann Womack will duet with Parker McCollum on his latest hit, "Killin' Me," at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. You can watch the show live Sunday on Prime Video starting at 8 p.m. ET.

Ashley Cooke's taking those 'baby blues' on tour

Posted Tuesday afternoon

Ashley Cooke's the baby blues world tour (Courtesy Ashley Cooke/Sweet Talk Publicity)

Ashley Cooke will launch the baby blues world tour this fall, with an itinerary set to take her both across the U.S. and across the pond.

The 28-date trek kicks off Sept. 17 in Cleveland, Ohio, and will pass through Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles before wrapping Feb. 25 at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.

In January, the "your place" hitmaker will play half a dozen dates in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Timmy McKeever, McCoy Moore, Just Jayne, Aniston Pate and Hannah McFarland will join her at different times on the run, named after a track on her self-titled sophomore album that arrives Aug. 14.

Tickets for Ashley's baby blues world tour go on sale Friday.

Hannah Harper named 'American Idol' winner

Posted Tuesday morning

Hannah Harper & Lee Ann Womack (Disney/Eric McCandless)

A mom of three who auditioned for American Idol with a song about postpartum depression and motherhood was named the show's newest champion on Monday night.

Hannah Harper, of Willow Springs, Missouri, won the season after overcoming runner-up Jordan McCullough and third-place finisher Keyla Richardson.

"I can't believe this is real life," Harper said in a special message for ABC's Good Morning America after her victory.

The 25-year-old, who started singing at age 9, got an early lead in the competition with the song she wrote about motherhood, "String Cheese," which quickly went viral.

"Some days I wanna cry, run away and hide, But I'd worry about their еvery need. And when I'm ovеrwhelmеd and touched out, thеy come climbin' up on the couch, sayin', 'Mama, can you open my string cheese?'" the song's lyrics read.

Idol season 4 winner and current judge Carrie Underwood said she saw some of her own experience in Harper's journey.

"I told Hannah Harper that she reminded me of me and she's got her own style going on, I didn't mean it in a vocal way at all, but just in that you're living your normal life and now you're on stage," Carrie said earlier on GMA.

During the season finale, Harper thanked her husband for taking care of their three sons while she competed on the show. She also performed Lee Ann Womack's signature song, "I Hope You Dance," with the 2001 CMA female vocalist of the year.

Tune in to see Harper live on GMA on Wednesday on ABC.

Luke Combs may be 'Sleepless,' but it's not slowing him down any

Posted Tuesday morning

Luke Combs (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

For the fifth week in a row, Luke Combs is still waking up the Billboard Country Airplay chart by keeping "Sleepless in a Hotel Room" at #1.

While that's plenty impressive, it's just par for the course for a Luke Combs hit. It's his third-longest stay atop the tally so far, matching the performance of 2023's "Fast Car," 2021's "Better Together" and 2019's "Even Though I'm Leaving."

"Forever After All" made it six weeks in 2021, while Luke's all-time record-holder so far is "Beautiful Crazy," which reigned for seven weeks in 2019.

Over on the comparable Mediabase chart, "Sleepless" is enjoying its second week of all-nighters.

In all, that means Luke has spent 42 weeks at #1 as a soloist, matching Keith Urban's record.

If you wonder where that puts them in history, the Aussie and the North Carolinian are at 13th place overall when it comes to their time at the top.

Total TV domination? Riley Green books second series on second network

Posted Tuesday morning

It's official: NBC confirms Riley Green will join The Voice when it premieres in September.

"I guess y’all can start calling me coach… see ya this fall," the "Change My Mind" hitmaker teased.

Fellow coach Kelly Clarkson left Riley a voicemail welcoming him to the show, going on to jump-start the rivalry that's sure to ensue between their teams.

The two join longtime coach Adam Levine, who'll return alongside a fourth celeb to be revealed soon.

Riley's no stranger to The Voice, having performed "Don't Mind If I Do" with Ella Langley during the season 26 finale and "Jesus Saves" during the season 28 wrap.

Of course, he's no stranger to TV either, having recently made his acting debut on Marshals on CBS.

'Signs' confirm there's a new Luke Bryan album coming

Posted Tuesday morning

Luke Bryan's ninth studio album, Signs, is coming Sept. 18, he revealed as he wrapped his ninth season as a judge on American Idol on Monday.

“It is always a great day when I get the chance to release new music,” he says in the news release announcing the record. “I’ve been working on this album for the past year, and I just love how it turned out. I was able to co-write a few, then turn to the writers in Nashville to round them out. I feel like my fans have always let me record songs that make you feel good, so I went into this album wanting everyone to just have fun.”

Luke co-wrote the new track, "Fish Hunt Golf Drink," which he debuted on the season finale of Idol.

It's the third release from the new album, following "Word on the Street," the name of his tour that kicks off May 29, and "Country and She Knows It," his current top-25 hit.

On Friday, he kicks off his annual Farm Tour in Clovis, California.

Dan + Shay are ready to 'bring it' at ACMs, because King George may be watching

Posted Tuesday morning

Dan + Shay have been performing during the Academy of Country Music Awards since the 50th anniversary show at AT&T Stadium in Dallas in 2015, just as they'll be Sunday for the 61st ceremony in Vegas.

But the hitmaking duo admits they still get some butterflies — and with good reason.

"The last time we performed at the ACMs, we opened the show," Dan Smyers recalls. "It was the Songs of the Decade moment and we did 'Tequila' for the 2010s. And I looked out and George Strait was out there. I feel like that definitely makes you nervous."

"But I think it makes you step up your game a little bit. It makes you rise to the occasion," he reflects. "When you look out and see George Strait, it's like, 'We gotta bring it!' And I feel good about that performance. It was good."

"Knock on wood, we haven't had any total, crazy mess-ups yet," he adds. "But I think it's inspiring to look out and see your peers."

But Dan also says it goes even deeper than that.

"Country music is such a family. Everybody's so supportive of each other. You know, you look out and see our friends Cody Johnson or Megan Moroney or whoever it is singing the words to your songs, and you're like, 'This is awesome, man!' Like, it kinda makes you feel like you belong."

Dan + Shay go into the 61st ACM Awards with seven trophies to their credit and another nomination for duo of the year.

You can tune in to watch their performance live from MGM Grand Garden Arena Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Is Shania bringing 'Dirty Rosie' to the ACMs?

Posted Monday afternoon

Shania Twain's "Dirty Rosie" (Republic Records)

If you like to take your chances in Vegas, it's probably a safe bet Shania Twain will be performing during Sunday's 61st ACMs, as well as hosting.

Why? Well, she just confirmed she has a new song.

"You can drive a hummer, in the summer," she wrote on Instagram Monday. "You can EVEN drive the ladies, in my mercedes. BUT you can’t drive my truck. New song Dirty Rosie coming this Wednesday."

Shania leans against the steering wheel of said ride on the cover of the track, which is included in the post.

If you've seen her earlier tease, you know she's quoting the lyrics of the song, which she previewed in what seems to be a clip from the music video.

Shania's most recent album is 2023's Queen of Me, though she's put out a handful of collabs since.

Tune in to see her take the stage at Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards, which stream live from Las Vegas on Prime Video.

Here's your country crib sheet for the 'American Idol' finale

Posted Monday afternoon

Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood & Lionel Richie (Disney/Eric McCandless)

Country fans are in for quite a concert as American Idol crowns a new champion Monday on ABC.

Luke Bryan's set to debut his new song, "Fish Hunt Golf Drink," on the show, as well as duet with contestant Julián Kalel on "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere," Dwight Yoakam's 1993 smash.

He'll also collab with Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie on "Deep River Woman," a top-10 hit for Lionel and Alabama in 1986. Little Big Town did the honors on Lionel's 2012 Tuskegee album.

Carrie will also take the stage with metal gods Mötley Crüe, following her 2009 cover of the band's iconic "Home Sweet Home."

Lee Ann Womack and Brad Paisley are also part of the lineup, along with Alicia Keys, Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms, Clay Aiken, En Vogue, Jason Mraz, Nelly, Tori Kelly and more.

Tune in Monday at 8 p.m. ET to watch the three-hour Idol wrap-up live on ABC and Disney+.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Meghan Patrick will come off the road in June as she awaits her first child

Posted Monday afternoon

Meghan Patrick's cancelled Golden Child dates (Courtesy Meghan Patrick/King Publicity)

After she finishes her May dates, Meghan Patrick is canceling the rest of her 2026 shows to focus on the upcoming birth of her first child with husband Mitchell Tenpenny.

“This is hard to say, but I need to be honest with myself and with y'all… I was wrong," she begins on Instagram. "When I found out I was pregnant, my first thought after the excitement was, 'How is this going to affect my career?' I was determined not to slow down."

"I thought I had to prove that pregnancy wouldn't change anything and that I could push through no matter what," she continues. "But over the last few weeks, after a lot of conversations with my doctor, my family, my team and Mitchell, I've realized I was wrong to think that I had anything to prove. More importantly, I've realized my health and my baby girl's well-being have to come first."

Meghan's much-wanted pregnancy happened to come at the same time the Canadian native was experiencing her biggest success in the States so far, as "Golden Child" became a top-20 hit.

"A lot of this tour was booked before I knew I was pregnant, and before I understood just how physically and mentally difficult this season would be," she goes on. "Between complications, hospital visits, exhaustion, and the anxiety that comes with experiencing a previous miscarriage, I've had to take a hard look at what's truly important right now."

Meghan has three more May dates before she starts her break from the road. Fans with tickets can get a refund at the point of purchase.

In the meantime, the mother-to-be plans to keep writing and making music, with an eye toward rescheduling her canceled Golden Child shows when she's able.

Ashley McBryde's about to get 'Wild' on the road

Posted Monday morning

Ashley McBryde's Into the Wild Tour (Courtesy Ashley McBryde/The Lede Company)

Ashley McBryde's heading Into the Wild to perform her new album on tour.

“This record, in so many ways, began on the road,” Ashley says of her fifth effort, which came out on Friday. “Wild is a collection of songs I’ve refused to let go quiet, that have been around for a decade. As well as some brand spanking new songs that were clawing at my guts to get out…and some songs that were running breathlessly into the dark because they knew if they could just get to me, they’d be safe and they’d be heard."

"This tour breathes life and light to all of them; it brings them to you," she adds. “I am so grateful that I live a life of music and miles, of stories and songs. I am so grateful that my life purpose is to make sure the songs don’t go unheard. We’ll see you out there.”

The 26-date Into the Wild Tour kicks off Sept. 10 in Ashland, Kentucky, and wraps Dec. 1 in Anaheim, California.

Presales start Wednesday with Ashley's Trybe fan club, before tickets become available to the public on Friday.

Brad Paisley digs into his 'Tacklebox' for new music

Posted Monday morning

Brad Paisley's opening his Tacklebox to share unreleased and previously unrecorded music from the '90s as well as new music inspired by the '80s and '90s.

The first track, "Fallin'," is out now.

“I see this ‘project’ as never-ending," he explains. "It’s almost like the fans have a direct link to my Dropbox or to a playlist that never ends. We are calling it Tacklebox because it’s a box full of hooks, country lyric hooks."

"In this digital age, I have every song I’ve ever written at my fingertips," he continues. "This project gave us a license to dig back into the catalog of songs that were never released, that feel like a time period, a style of writing, a sound, and nostalgia. ... When I first started writing and recording music, I couldn’t have dreamed of the ability to put something out instantly for the fans.”

Look for even more from Tacklebox later this week.

Monday night, Brad's set to perform his 2002 #1, "I'm Gonna Miss Her," on the season finale of American Idol with Lucas Leon. You can tune in to watch at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

The "Whiskey Lullaby" hitmaker's also adding a dozen new dates to his Brad Paisley Live tour, starting with his Aug. 27 concert in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Presales start Tuesday.