BRETT’S COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS:
TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY:
1953: BLACKHAWK member VAN STEPHENSON was born. While was a band member, their hits included Goodbye Says It All, Once In A While and I’m Not Strong Enough To Say No. He died of melanoma in 2001.
1997: SHANIA TWAIN’s album, Come On Over was released. It has since become the best-selling album by a female country artist with more than 40 million copies sold.
2003: DOLLY PARTON was honored as a BMI Icon by the Broadcast Music Incorporated organization for her career success.
2004: LORETTA LYNN received the Broadcast Music Incorporated Lifetime Achievement Award for her career success.
2008: BRAD PAISLEY released his sixth studio album, Play, which contained many instrumental tracks as well as duets with B.B. King and KEITH URBAN.
IN THE NEWS:
CMA AWARDS REVEAL PRESENTERS:
The Country Music Association has revealed LITTLE BIG TOWN, LADY A, JORDAN DAVIS, WYNONNA, CODY JOHNSON and others will present awards at the CMA Awards, airing November 9 on ABC. The show will be hosted by LUKE BRYAN and former NFL star Peyton Manning.
REBA ON VOCAL REST:
REBA MCENTIRE was forced to reschedule her concerts November 3-5 after being placed on doctor-ordered vocal rest. The concerts have been rescheduled for December and it’s known if Reba will be able to perform at next week’s CMA Awards or not, though she is still on the schedule at this time.
THOMAS RHETT REVEALS 2023 TOUR:
One of the hottest tickets in country next sure is sure to be THOMAS RHETT’s Home Team 23 tour with special guest COLE SWINDELL. The two co-wrote Cole’s most recent hit, She Had Me At Heads Carolina and are good friends as well, having toured together once before. The tour begins next spring and will play 40 shows before wrapping up in Nashville at the end of September.
CMT AWARDS MOVING TO AUSTIN:
During CARRIE UNDERWOOD’s November 2 concert at The Moody Center in Austin, Texas, she was surprised by KELSEA BALLERINI who joined her on stage to reveal the 2023 CMT Music Awards will be shifting to Austin and will be held at that very arena. Ballerini will return to co-host the show, though it’s not known yet who her co-host will be. Underwood, the most honored artist by the CMT Music Awards will also perform at the April 2, 2023 event, which will air on CBS.
KELSEA REACHES DIVORCE SETTLEMENT:
Just weeks after revealing their plans to divorce, KELSEA BALLERINI and MORGAN EVANS have come to terms on a settlement. Though the couple showed no outward signs of issues, People reports that sources close to the couple had known of many long-term issues, which led to counseling and at least one prior separation.
NEW BRANTLEY GILBERT MUSIC COMING:
On November 10, BRANTLEY GILBERT will release a new album, So Help Me God in digital format. The project includes collaborations with BLAKE SHELTON featuring VINCE GILL, HARDY and JASON ALDEAN and will be Gilbert’s first new music in nearly three years.
ALDEAN COVERS ALABAMA:
Getting in the Christmas spirit, JASON ALDEAN has recorded a cover of ALABAMA’s classic Christmas In Dixie, available now. Aldean credits the band as being one of his biggest musical influences and performed a cover of their hit, Tennessee River for the 2013 Alabama & Friends tribute album.
LAMBERT, BROWN, WALLEN & HARDY PLAY GULF COAST JAM:
The 11th Annual Gulf Coast Jam is set for June 1-4 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach, Florida with headliners MIRANDA LAMBERT, KANE BROWN, MORGAN WALLEN and HARDY. The 2022 event had such an overwhelming crowd response that organizers will make the festival a four-day event going forward instead of its initial three days.