Little Big Town Returns To Host 2019 CMT Music Awards

CMT announced that GRAMMY-winning country group Little Big Town will return to host the “2019 CMT Music Awards” for the second consecutive year. The fan-voted award show airs LIVE from Music City’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 5 at 8:00pm ET/7:00pm CT and features country music’s biggest stars.  

Little Big Town has graced the “CMT Music Awards” stage as both hosts and honorees, with three past wins in the “Group Video of the Year” category and multiple show-stopping performances over the years. The announcement of the chart-topping recording artists returning to host comes on the heels of the release of their critically acclaimed new song “The Daughters,” from their upcoming ninth studio album.

Chart-topping country singer-songwriter Carly Pearce will reveal the nominations for this year’s show on Tuesday, May 7 on NBC’s TODAY with Hoda and Jenna, along with along with a special performance of “Closer To You” (Big Machine Records).  

Fans can purchase presale tickets for the 2019 CMT Awards beginning Friday, May 10 at 11:00am ET/10:00am CT via Ticketmaster using password “BUCKLEUP”. General sale begins Saturday, May 11 at 11:00am ET/10:00am CT.  Please visit: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B00569BB5AA4C4B

A limited amount of Ultimate Insider VIP Experiences are available for fans seeking celebrity treatment at the 2019 CMT Music Awards. VIPs will have the opportunity to walk the red carpet and snap a professional photo in addition to watching the show from a premium seat or the standing room pit. Before the Awards show, VIP guests will get to attend select rehearsals and soundcheck, while also having guaranteed access to a taping of CMT Crossroads, CMT New Artist Showcase, the CMT Songbird Supper Club Dinner featuring high profile chefs from around the country and some of the hottest emerging artists on the Nashville scene, and more. To view Ultimate Insider VIP Experience details, please visit:www.cidentertainment.com/events/cmt-music-awards.

Follow @CMT on Twitter and Instagram, use hashtag #CMTawards and like the CMT Music Awards on Facebook.

Carrie Underwood’s “The Cry Pretty Tour 360” Launches With A Sold-Out Show Opening Night

Seven-time Grammy Award-winning superstar Carrie Underwood, launched her new arena tour, THE CRY PRETTY TOUR 360, on May 1, 2019, with a sold-out show at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.  Sponsored by CALIA, the new tour will play 55+ arenas across the U.S. and Canada and is promoted by AEG Presents. 

Underwood, a strong supporter of rising female artists, is joined on THE CRY PRETTY TOUR 360 by special guests Maddie & Tae and Runaway June.  In addition to their own sets, both groups joined Underwood onstage for a tribute to some of the iconic country females that have paved the way for today’s artists. 

Underwood’s two-hour set featured songs from her critically-acclaimed album, Cry Pretty, including the title track, her recent hit single, Love Wins, and the just-released Southbound, which had its broadcast debut on the recent ACM Awards and is the most-added single at country radio this week.  She covers numerous hits spanning her spectacular 14-year career, including new arrangements and special mash-ups created for the tour.  Another highlight of the show featured the winner of an ongoing contest wherein fans submit stories about what Underwood’s hit anthem, The Champion, means to them for the chance to join her on stage and perform the rap originated by Ludacris on the platinum track.

Last night, Underwood also won the 2019 Billboard Music Award for Top Country Female Artist.

For more information regarding THE CRY PRETTY TOUR 360, go to http://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com.

Florida Georgia Line To Perform Exclusive Concert at The Ryman

SiriusXM announced that multi-platinum, chart-topping duo Florida Georgia Line will perform a special invitation-only event for SiriusXM listeners at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, marking the GRAMMY nominees’ first concert at the legendary venue. The private show will air live on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 pm CT on SiriusXM’s The Highway, channel 56, and on the SiriusXM app.

Fans can expect crowd-favorites such as their 11X-PLATINUM debut “Cruise,” “H.O.L.Y.,” and Billboard record-breaker “Meant to Be,” plus tracks from their latest BMLG Records album CAN’T SAY I AIN’T COUNTRY, including chart-rising single “Talk You Out of It” and #1 smash “Simple.”

“The first time BK and I heard ourselves on the radio was on SiriusXM,” shared FGL’s Tyler Hubbard. “So, to come together now for our first full-blown concert at the Ryman is really special.”

FGL’s Brian Kelley adds, “There is a magical feeling when you walk into the Ryman and this is a place that has always been on our bucket list to play. We are so excited for this show and can’t wait to bring our FGL vibes to the Mother Church!”

“Since being played first on SiriusXM’s The Highway, Tyler and Brian have been unstoppable, and for them to play the Mother Church of Country Music will be a cherished memory for their many fans,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. “It will be a special moment for Florida Georgia Line at the Ryman and we are excited to present this one-of-a-kind performance to our listeners nationwide.”

SiriusXM’s The Highway first played FGL’s “Cruise” in May 2012, before the duo was signed to a label deal. From that launching pad, the history-making song went on to be certified DIAMOND, making FGL the first Country act to achieve this feat, and is the best-selling digital Country single of all time (SoundScan). FGL regularly credits The Highway’s support of the duo for playing a key role in their career.

Subscribers will have the opportunity to win tickets to this private SiriusXM performance through an invitation sent by e-mail to qualified subscribers who have consented to e-mail marketing from SiriusXM and who have registered their music interests with us at siriusxm.com/perks.

Subscribers since April 10, 2019 will be able to enter for the chance to win a trip for two to Nashville, TN including airfare, hotel stay, and a pair of tickets to SiriusXM Presents Florida Georgia Line at The Ryman. See Official Rules for complete details at siriusxm.com/FloridaGeorgiaLine.

SiriusXM subscribers will be able to listen to The Highway (ch. 56) on SiriusXM radios, and those with streaming access can listen online, on-the-go with the SiriusXM mobile app and at home on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, Amazon Alexa devices, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. Go to www.SiriusXM.com/streaming to learn more.

Additional FREE Performance Stages Added To CMA Fest

CMA Fest has revealed the lineups for three daytime stages that are free to the public during the four-day festival in June. Chevy Breakout Stage at Walk of Fame Park, Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza and Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage will feature over 110 performances Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, highlighting fan favorites and rising Country stars daily.

Located at Walk of Fame Park, the lineup at the Chevy Breakout Stage will highlight rising artists from 11:10 AM – 4:55 PM on Thursday, and 10:30 AM – 4:55 PM Friday through Sunday including Carlton Anderson, Tenille Arts, Kassi Ashton, Drew Baldridge, Chris Bandi, Kelleigh Bannen, Bailey Bryan, Austin Burke, Dillon Carmichael, Adam Craig, Travis Denning, Cale Dodds, Adam Doleac, Clare Dunn, Brooke Eden, Filmore, HARDY, Jillian Jacqueline, James Barker Band, Austin Jenckes, Brett Kissel, Love and Theft, Tegan Marie, Steve Moakler, Muscadine Bloodline, Brandon Ratcliff, Brandon Ray, Teddy Robb, Noah Schnacky, Dylan Schneider, Seaforth, Smithfield, Matt Stell, Sweet Tea Trio, Tenille Townes, Rachel Wammack, Waterloo Revival, The Wild Feathers and Carter Winter. Gates for the Chevy Breakout Stage will open to the public at 10:40 AM Thursday, June 6 and 9:30 AM Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9. In addition, Miranda Lambert will lead MuttNation’s Mutt March on Thursday, June 6 from 8:30 to 10:30 AM.  Starting at Nissan Stadium, the parade of pups will wind its way across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and into Walk of Fame Park, where Storme Warren will interview Lambert in a live broadcast from the Chevy Breakout Stage on SiriusXM’s The Highway. Register for the MuttMarch here: https://www.MuttNationFoundation.com.

The Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza entertains fans from 10:45 AM – 4:30 PM daily, with the “BMI Tailgate” performances Thursday, June 6 from 2:45 PM – 5:10 PM, which includes Colin Elmore, House Whiskey, Josh Phillips and Dan Smalley. Additional acts taking the stage include The Adelaides, Jay Allen, Roan Ash, Gabby Barrett, Stephen Carey, Troy Cartwright, Crowder, Kyle Daniel, Jaida Dreyer, Ross Ellis, Everette, Fairground Saints, Ray Fulcher, Noah Guthrie, Adam Hambrick, Levi Hummon, Hunter Brothers, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Lauren Jenkins, Willie Jones, King Calaway, The Last Bandoleros, Leaving Austin, Baylee Littrell, Hayley Orrantia, Drew Parker, Stephanie Quayle, Faren Rachels, Elvie Shane, Kalie Shorr, The Sisterhood Band, The Swon Brothers and Lainey Wilson. Gates for the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza will open to the public at 9:45 AM each day, Thursday through Sunday.

The Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage, located inside the NCVC Visitor Center at Bridgestone Arena, will take place daily from 11:00 AM – 4:40 PM. Thursday’s performances are presented by ASCAP and feature Haley Mae Campbell, Seth Cook, Cross Atlantic, Jobe Fortner, Makayla Lynn, Jill Martin, David Ray, Maggie Renfroe, Joe Robinson and Anna Rose. Friday’s performances are presented by SESAC and feature Blanco Brown, Nora Collins, Spencer Crandall, Erin Enderlin, Aaron Goodvin, Kelly McGrath, Tom O’Connor, Jake Rose, Scott Stevens and Jenny Tolman. Saturday and Sunday’s lineups includes Beoga, Jordan Brooker, Brown & Gray, Shy Carter, Robert Counts, Crawford & Power, Hannah Dasher, Larry Fleet, Kylie Frey, Tony Jackson, Angie Keilhauer, Cory Marks, Jaden Michaels, Emily Ann Roberts, Shane Runion, SixForty1, Tiera, Tyler Reese Tritt, Anna Vaus and The Wandering Hearts.

Additional performers at CMA Fest include Billy Currington at the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Thursday, Randy Houser at Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by BBR Music Group on Thursday and Pam Tillis on the Budweiser Forever Country Stage on Sunday. 
All outdoor daytime stages including the Budweiser Forever Country Stage, Chevy Breakout Stage at Walk of Fame Park, Chevy Riverfront Stage, Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza and Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage are free and open to the public. All stage lineups are available in the Official CMA Fest App. Additional stage lineups, Xfinity Fan Fair X activities and more will be announced in the coming weeks. All artist lineups are subject to change.Artists performing at CMA Fest donate their time so a portion of ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music education initiatives across the United States through the CMA Foundation.

Don’t miss a beat by staying connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, the Official CMA Fest App, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and sign up for CMA Country Connection emails to receive the latest news as soon as it’s announced.

A limited number of four-day passes for the nightly performances at Nissan Stadium are still available at CMAfest.com or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST. Single and three-day tickets for Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater, in addition to single and four-day tickets for Xfinity Fan Fair X, are available at CMAfest.com.

The entire CMA Fest 2019 merchandise line is now available online at shop.cmafest.com. Now through 10:00 AM/CT Wednesday, May 1, shoppers can use code ‘SURPRISE25’ at checkout to receive 25% off an entire purchase. Order by Tuesday, May 28 to receive in time for the festival. Fans will also be able to purchase official merchandise at several locations across the festival footprint in June.

Jennifer Nettles To Perform National Anthem at the 145th Kentucky Derby

Churchill Downs Racetrack  announced that Grammy® Award-winning country music superstar Jennifer Nettles will sing the national anthem at the 145th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Nettles will also be a guest of the world-famous Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala.

Nettle’s performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” will be broadcast live on NBC and take place in front of approximately 160,000 fans attending the 2019 Kentucky Derby. It will take place in the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle just after 5:00 PM EDT, immediately prior to the historic race.

“Jennifer Nettles is a country music and vocal powerhouse,” said Kevin Flanery, President of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “We are excited and honored for her to perform our national anthem for the millions of viewers and fans around the world who tune in on Derby day.”   

Nettles is the eleventh artist to perform the national anthem since Churchill Downs began the tradition in 2009. Notable artists and vocalists who have performed the national anthem at the Kentucky Derby include Pentatonix (2018), Harry Connick, Jr. (2017), Lady Antebellum (2016), Josh Groban (2015), Jo Dee Messina (2014), Martina McBride (2013), Mary J. Blige (2012), Jordin Sparks (2011), Rascal Flatts (2010) and Lee Ann Rimes (2009).