Keith Urban To Host The 55th ACM Awards + Releases New Single “God Whispered Your Name”

CBS and the Academy of Country Music® today announced that reigning ACM® Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award®-winner Keith Urban will host the 55TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring the biggest names and emerging talent in the Country Music industry. The awards show will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 5 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network and be available to stream live and on-demand across digital platforms on the CBS All Access subscription service. This will be Urban’s first time hosting the ACM Awards.

“As if having a new song out today wasn’t enough, I also get to host the ACM Awards in April,” said Urban. “I’ll tell you – this year already feels like the most creative and energized year of my life… and there’s so much more to come. Incredibly grateful – and ready to roll!”

 

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BIG NEWS! Just dropped a new song “God Whispered Your Name” AND I’ll be hosting the @acmawards on April 5th!! #ACMawards

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In addition to being named the host for the 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards, four-time GRAMMY Award winner and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban today announced the release of his first new song of 2020.  “God Whispered Your Name” is a soulful, mid-tempo cut that features Urban’s impassioned and distinct vocal style.  Listen to “God Whispered Your Name” here:  https://strm.to/KUGWYN

“We are thrilled to have our reigning Entertainer of the Year as the centerpiece of our 55th ACM Awards ceremony. Keith epitomizes greatness in our industry, is beloved by fans and fellow artists, and I can’t think of a better representative to be the face of our Awards show and to help usher in a new era at the Academy,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.
 
“Keith Urban is the perfect choice to host the Academy of Country Music Awards,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music & Live Events, CBS. “He’s an incredible musician, a respected and revered member of the Country Music community and the music community worldwide, and our viewers love him. We’re thrilled to have him lead Country Music’s Party of the Year.”

For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events, visit www.ACMcountry.com. You can like Academy of Country Music on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @ACMawards, follow on Instagram at @ACMawards and sign up for the FREE ACM A-List for more immediate updates.

Nominees & New Host Announced for the 55th ACM Awards

The Academy of Country Music® announced today the nominations for the 55TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honoring the biggest names and emerging talent in the Country Music industry. Reigning ACM® Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award®-winner Keith Urban will host the show for the first time.

The 55th ACM Awards® will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 5 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and will be available to stream live and on-demand across digital platforms on the CBS All Access subscription service.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Carrie Underwood

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Dierks Bentley
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban

DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Midland
Old Dominion
The Highwomen

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ingrid Andress
Gabby Barrett
Lindsay Ell
Caylee Hammack
Tenille Townes

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Jordan Davis
Russell Dickerson
Riley Green
Cody Johnson
Morgan Wallen

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Center Point Road – Thomas Rhett
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Dann Huff, Thomas Rhett, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

GIRL – Maren Morris
Producers: busbee, Greg Kurstin, Maren Morris
Record Label: Columbia Nashville

Heartache Medication – Jon Pardi
Producers: Bart Butler, Ryan Gore, Jon Pardi
Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville

What You See Is What You Get – Luke Combs
Producer: Scott Moffatt
Record Label: River House Artists/Columbia Nashville

Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
God’s Country – Blake Shelton
Producer: Scott Hendricks
Record Label: Warner Bros. (Nashville)

One Man Band – Old Dominion
Producer: Shane McAnally
Record Label: RCA Records Nashville

Rainbow – Kacey Musgraves
Producers: Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves, Daniel Tashian
Record Label: MCA Nashville

Rumor – Lee Brice
Producers: Lee Brice, Dan Frizsell, Kyle Jacobs, Jon Stone
Record Label: Curb Records

What If I Never Get Over You – Lady Antebellum
Producer: Dann Huff
Record Label: BMLG Records

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay Featuring Justin Bieber
Songwriters: Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers
Publishers: Beats and Banjos (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) / Shay Mooney Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) / Big Ass Pile Of Dimes Music (BMI), Big Machine Music (BMI) / Buckeye 26 (ASCAP), Jreynmusic (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) / Bieber Time Publishing (ASCAP), Universal Music (ASCAP) / Poo B Z Inc. (ASCAP), BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP).

Girl Goin’ Nowhere – Ashley McBryde
Songwriters: Jeremy Bussey, Ashley McBryde
Publishers: Songs of Song Factory (BMI) / Universal Tunes (SESAC).

God’s Country – Blake Shelton
Songwriters: Devin Dawson, Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt
Publishers: Relative Music Group (BMI), Administered by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI) / WB Music Corp. / Georgia Song Vibez / We-volve Music (ASCAP) / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Neon Cross Music (BMI).

One Man Band – Old Dominion
Songwriters: Josh Osborne, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Brad Tursi
Publishers: WB Music Corp/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP) adm by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing. Rezsongs/Reehits World/Smacktown Music, a division of Smack Blue, LLC/Unfair Entertainment  (ASCAP) adm. by Me Gusta Music. We’re Really Doin’ It Publishing (ASCAP) adm by Words & Music. Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/Smackville Music/Smack Songs LLC (ASCAP) adm. by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing.

Some Of It – Eric Church
Songwriters: Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde, Bobby Pinson
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Longer and Louder Music, admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC; Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music/Little Louder Songs, admin. by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing; New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights; New Writers Of Sea Gayle Music/Not A Track Guy Music, admin. by ClearBox Rights (BMI).

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay Featuring Justin Bieber
Director: Patrick Tracy
Producer: Christen Pinkston

God’s Country – Blake Shelton
Director: Sophie Muller
Producers: Jamie Amos, Patrick Kennedy

One Man Band – Old Dominion
Director: Mason Allen
Producer: Mason Allen

Remember You Young – Thomas Rhett
Director: TK McKamy
Producer: Dan Atchison

Sugar Coat – Little Big Town
Directors: Alexa Kinigopoulos, Stephen Kinigopoulos
Producers: Wes Edwards, Carlo Glorioso, Angie Lorenz

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
10,000 Hours – Dan + Shay Featuring Justin Bieber
Producers: Dan Smyers
Record Label: Warner Music Nashville

Dive Bar – Garth Brooks Featuring Blake Shelton
Producers: Garth Brooks
Record Label: Pearl Records, Inc.

Fooled Around And Fell In Love – Miranda Lambert Featuring Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack & Elle King
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Label: Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville

Old Town Road – Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
Producers: Michael Trent Reznor, Atticus Matthew Ross, YoungKio
Record Label: Columbia Records

What Happens In A Small Town – Brantley Gilbert Featuring Lindsay Ell
Producer: Dann Huff
Record Label: The Valory Music Co.

Luke Bryan Partners with Constellation Brands and Creates “Two Lane American Golden Lager” Beer

Two-time ACM and two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan has teamed up with Constellation Brands, the leading brewer and producer of high-end beer, wine and spirits, to introduce Two Lane American Golden Lager. Using only high-quality, American-grown ingredients, Constellation and Luke are proud to offer a modern take on an easy-to-enjoy, sessionable beer.

“Between my songs, Instagram posts and onstage toasts to my audience, it’s no secret that I like beer,” Luke said. “For a long time, I’ve dreamed of creating a beer to enjoy no matter if you are hanging out at one of my shows or at home with friends and family, and I was so grateful to find a partner in Constellation to make that dream a reality.”

“We’re thrilled to introduce Two Lane Lager to fans in collaboration with Luke. As a self-proclaimed ‘beer expert,’ he’s the perfect complement to our expert brewers,” said John Alvarado, SVP, Brand Marketing Beer Division, Constellation Brands. “Two Lane Lager is a natural extension of our high-end portfolio, offering a clean and crisp taste that transports you to a place where good friends and good times are waiting, and the beer is always cold.”

Luke’s support of Two Lane goes far deeper than a celebrity endorsement. He’s played an instrumental role throughout the entire process, from tasting to creative development. In fact, Luke is so proud of Two Lane, he’s put his name on it, literally signing off on every can.

Every can of Two Lane is brewed with high-quality ingredients, including two-row American barley and water sourced from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Two Lane received its name because it’s perfect for the kinds of places you find at the end of a two-lane road — secret fishing holes, secluded campsites, dive bars — ultimately wherever and with whomever you feel most at home.

Two Lane American Golden Lager will first be available to the corner of the country Luke calls home, hitting shelves in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia on March 2. This sessionable beer will be sold in 6-pack cans, 12-pack cans, 16-ounce single-serve cans and on draft. A 12-pack of cans has an SRP of $15.99. For more information, visit www.DrinkTwoLane.com, or take the road less traveled and follow @TwoLaneBrewing on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Two Lane will join Luke in the above-mentioned markets during his 2020 summer tour, Proud To Be Right Here, which kicks off on May 28. To learn more about tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit LukeBryan.com/tour.

Parmalee and Blanco Brown Release Heartwarming Music Video For “Just The Way”

“Just the Way,” the hot new collaboration between Stoney Creek Records’ platinum-selling band, Parmalee and Wheelhouse Record’s Blanco Brown will make its live television debut with a performance on NBC’s TODAY, Wednesday, February 26th. The live performance comes fast on the heels of yesterday’s world premiere of the music video for the upbeat, self-appreciative tune on CMT.

The touching music video for the heartfelt track mirrors and even magnifies the sentiment of the song, encouraging self-acceptance, self-love and reminding people that they are special in their own way. Displayed on the Viacom CBS billboard in Times Square and featured on CMT, CMT Music and CMT.com, the video celebrates the uniquities that color our world with Parmalee and Blanco sharing tokens of appreciation to a joyous cast of characters.

The “feel-good, danceable” (The Boot) song was released just before the holidays and has since been garnering online attention, earning more than one million streams last week alone and inspiring fans to create their own videos to the tune on social media platforms like TikTok, in a similar viral fashion early on in its journey as Blanco’s double platinum international smash single “The Git Up.”

Friends for several years, this is the first time Parmalee and Blanco have worked together and it appears to only be the beginning. This year, the Country quartet and TrailerTrap creator will set out on the road together for their co-headlining Just the Way Tour (current list of dates can be found below).

Appearing on NBC’s TODAY, Blanco Brown will fulfill a promise he made to Hoda and Jenna on their first day of Hoda & Jenna & Friends. Brown, knowing the hosts are big fans of “The Git Up,” surprise FaceTimed the two hosts, offering to come teach them the dance and bring his friends Parmalee along to perform their new song. The call took an interesting turn, with Brown’s phone number being accidentally displayed on national television. After receiving a flood of calls, texts, etc. Billboard’s 2019 “#1 Top New Country Artist” turned lemons into lemonades and opened his line to chat with fans, letting them know how appreciative he is of them.

JUST THE WAY TOUR DATES:
3.25 – New York, NY – The Gramercy Theater
3.26 – Freehold, NJ – iPlay America’s Event Center
3.27 – Buffalo, NY – Showplace Theater
3.28 – Jordan, NY – Kegs Canalside
6.6 – Myrtle Beach, SC – Carolina Country Music Fest
6.10 – Dewey Beach, DE – Bottle & Cork
6.11 – Hampton, VA – The Vanguard
***Additional dates to be added in the coming weeks

For a list of Parmalee’s tour dates and more information, please visit: parmaleemusic.com. For more information on Blanco Brown, please visit his website.

Gone West Shares Details About Opening Back-To-Back Shows For George Strait

Country quartet on the rise Gone West recently spent some time in Las Vegas opening for the King of Country, George Strait. Comprised of Colbie Caillat, Jason Reeves, Nelly Joy and Justin Kawika Young, the band spent two nights back-to-back introducing their new music to thousands of fans at the  T-Mobile Arena.

In an exclusive Q&A with the band, each member shared their thoughts on this incredible experience. Check out below what Colbie Caillat, Nelly Joy, Jason Reeves and Justin Kawika Young revealed to us on opening for country music icon, George Strait.

Country Music Rocks (CMR):  What was your first reaction to hearing the news that you would be opening for The King of Country – George Strait – at two of his shows in Vegas?

Nelly Joy: We were incredibly honored and honestly couldn’t believe that the King of Country music invited us to share the stage with him! George is a legend so we kind of freaked out and immediately started calling all of our friends and family!

Jason Reeves:  It was very surreal and surprising to hear we were opening for George Strait, especially two nights in a row in Vegas. He’s such a legendary artist and it was a high honor to have that opportunity.

Colbie Caillat:  It was a huge honor that he liked our music enough to introduce us to his incredible fans and also vouch for is as a new band. We had so much fun!

Justin Kawika Young: Having not grown up with country music, I don’t think I fully grasped the magnitude of it until I started seeing other people’s reactions. I’d mention that we are opening for George Strait and people would lose their minds! Now I know just what an honor it is to have shared the stage with him.

CMR:  What was your biggest takeaway/memorable moment from this experience while performing on stage?

Nelly Joy:  One of our favorite moments of the show was on the last night during the single What Could’ve Been. We asked everyone to hold up their cell phone lights and immediately it felt like we were playing in a gigantic sky filled with floating stars. We could feel the magical energy from the crowd and it inspired us to really soak in that beautiful moment. We will never forget this memory.

Jason Reeves: There were moments on stage that I looked over and realized how amazing it was to be on such a big stage with my friends and family making music for that many people. I feel very grateful I get to do what I love with people I love, and that was an especially memorable two shows.

Colbie Caillat: “Watching his loyal fans fill that stadium and sing every word to his songs, and be so kind and attentive to us while we played as well.”

Justin Kawika Young: It’s really cool to see how many people traveled really far to see him. People even flew in from Hawai’i. Really shows the power of great songs.

CMR: What was your favorite song that you enjoyed watching George Strait perform?
Nelly Joy:  Amarillo By Morning was the song I most looked forward to seeing and it did NOT disappoint ! George and his incredible band actually sounded even BETTER live on that song than on the record if that’s even possible. I danced along with my entire family because we are from Amarillo so this is our “hometown theme song”!

Jason Reeves: My favorite song from George’s set was probably Give It Away. The crowd really got into it and I love the lyrics and how the hook sort of morphs throughout the song.

Colbie Caillat: Amarillo By Morning cause we always sing that song, it’s so beautiful.

Justin Kawika Young: For me it was less a specific song but it was how simple his show was – in the best way. It’s just about his voice, his songs and the musicians. No need for fancy lights or effects. It’s truly about the music and when it’s good, that’s all you need!

Gone West is currently showcasing their latest single, “What Could’ve Been,” as well as gearing up to introduce new music throughout the year ahead. The band is set to be on the road traveling coast to coast and everywhere in between sharing their music and connecting with fans.

Keep up with Gone West by visiting their Official Website, and by following them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.