Jelly Roll says he was so nervous when he met Taylor Swift he couldn’t think — or talk — straight

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Like Taylor Swift, Jelly Roll is a chart-topping country star who’s crossed over to pop. But he says when he actually got to meet Taylor earlier this year at the Grammys, he couldn’t even form a proper sentence. Jelly tells People that what he wanted to share with Taylor …

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Bailey Zimmerman recalls feeling ‘super weird’ about his CMA New Artist nomination

Disney/Tanner Yeager Grateful and excited are common feelings when one receives an award nomination. However, another feeling that CMA New Artist nominee Bailey Zimmerman felt was “weird.” “It’s something that I’ve never felt before,” Bailey recounts to ABC Audio of the moment he found out about his nod. “It was super weird. It didn’t feel like real …

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Parker McCollum’s thankful for his CMA Song of the Year nod: ‘That’s as good as it gets’

Disney/Tanner Yeager Parker McCollum‘s not just a singer, he’s a songwriter and prides himself in that art. That’s why having “Burn It Down” nominated for CMA Song of the Year means a lot to him. “That’s as good as it gets for me and that’s really the one award I think that carries a bunch of weight …

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Old Dominion weighs in on potentially earning their seventh CMA Vocal Group award

Disney/Frank Micelotta Old Dominion‘s been on a winning streak in the CMA Vocal Group of the Year category for the past six years. If they continue their reign this year, they’ll earn their seventh trophy and become the second-most-awarded Vocal Group, taking over the title currently held by six-time winners Little Big Town. So how’s Old Dominion feeling about …

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Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton + more to perform George Strait tribute at CMAs

Courtesy of Country Music Association Country Music’s Biggest Night is about to get bigger. It’s been announced that Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Parker McCollum and Jamey Johnson will perform a tribute to George Strait onstage. Their performance will happen after George receives his 2024 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Past CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement …

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Why Riley Green’s first CMA Award nomination makes him feel validated

Disney/Scott Kirkland There’s a first time for everything, and for Riley Green, 2024 has been the year of numerous firsts — including getting nominated for a CMA Award and being invited to perform onstage. “You know, being nominated for a CMA Award, getting to perform at the CMAs is such a huge thing,” Riley tells ABC …

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Earning a CMA New Artist nod still feels surreal to Nate Smith: ‘It’s just crazy’

Disney/Scott Kirkland Nate Smith may have three #1 hits under his belt, but earning a CMA New Artist nomination still feels pretty surreal. “It does feel good. It’s just crazy. I mean, if you knew me, man, from my hometown and growing up and stuff, you’d be like, ‘This dork. How is he up here? …

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Luke Combs is excited to do something ‘for the first time’ at the CMA Awards

ABC It’s always special when an artist gets an Album of the Year nod, but it means even more for Luke Combs when it’s his autobiographical Fathers & Sons, an album he dedicated to his two boys. “That one’s a little extra special, man. To be able to have something like that for [my sons] and just, you know, to do something that …

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Luke Combs reveals the lifestyle change he made for his health: ‘It’s changed my life mentally’

John Shearer/Getty Images for Concert For Carolina Luke Combs says he is putting his health first when it comes to his sons, 2-year-old Tex and 1-year-old Beau. “Surprisingly, this is the least country thing I’ve ever said: [I’m] gluten-free now,” the country singer told ABC News. Combs, 34, said during a break this summer he noticed that …

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Ashley McBryde’s stripping down her special CMA Awards performance: ‘It’s just me and a guitar’

Disney/Larry McCormack Time sure flies when you’ve earned five CMA Female Vocalist of the Year nominations like Ashley McBryde. “Somebody said that it was the fifth time a while ago, and I was like, ‘Oh wow. Wow!’” Ashley marvels in an interview with ABC Audio before Wednesday’s show. In addition to being a nominee, Ashley’s set to take …

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