BRETT’S COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS:
TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY:
1983: KENNY ROGERS and DOLLY PARTON hit number one on the country charts with Islands In The Stream. The song was also a smash hit on the pop charts.
2013: BETSY SMITTLE, half-sister of GARTH BROOKS and a former member of his band, died at age 60.
2018: PISTOL ANNIES released their third studio album, Interstate Gospel. The album topped the country album chart and earned the trio their first Grammy nomination.
IN THE NEWS:
CMA AWARDS ADD MORE PERFORMERS:
The Country Music Association has revealed additional performers for the 56th Annual CMA Awards, airing November 9 on ABC. LUKE COMBS, REBA MCENTIRE, THOMAS RHETT with Katy Perry, CODY JOHNSON, COLE SWINDELL and CHRIS STAPLETON with PATTY LOVELESS will be among those joining the lineup of performers. The show will also include tributes to LORETTA LYNN, JERRY LEE LEWIS and ALAN JACKSON, the latter of who will receive the WILLIE NELSON Lifetime Achievement Award.
IT’S A BOY FOR BARRETT:
American Idol winner GABBY BARRETT (I Hope) and her husband Cade Foehner welcomed their second child, son Augustine Boone on October 27. He joins big sister, Baylah, making them a family of four just before the holidays. Though Gabby has been working on her second album much of the fall, she now intends to take time off before heading out on tour next year.
KNEE INJURY SIDELINES TRITT:
Due to a knee injury, TRAVIS TRITT has scrapped all scheduled shows for November. Despite his best efforts to play through the pain, Travis says it came to a point where he had no choice but to take time off and rest. He hopes to be back on tour in the not-too-distant future.
NEW SHANIA ALBUM COMING:
On February 3, SHANIA TWAIN will release her new album, Queen Of Me. She describes the music as upbeat and showcasing strength. She also plans a major tour next year in support of the project.
COUNTRY TRIBUTE TO THE STONES:
Stone Cold Country, an album of country artists tributing The Rolling Stones is in the works. BROOKS & DUNN, ERIC CHURCH, ASHLEY MCBRYDE and others will cover the rock band’s tunes. No release date has yet been revealed for the project.
GILL, STUART & STEVENS TO JOIN MUSICIANS’ HALL OF FAME:
On November 22, VINCE GILL, MARTY STUART and RAY STEVENS will be among those inducted to the Musicians’ Hall of Fame in Nashville. The ceremony, at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, will be hosted by PHIL VASSAR and will include celebrity guest performances.