Keith Urban and Merle Haggard at the 2014 CMT Artists of the Year; Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMTYou’ll soon be hearing Merle Haggard’s 1968 hit, “Mama Tried” — or at least a piece of it — on country radio a lot, if Keith Urban has his way. The Australian superstar samples the country classic on …
Mar 21
Entertainer the Year Garth Brooks inducts Chris Janson as the newest member of the Opry
ABC/Image Group LA The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year turned out Tuesday night to induct the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. But at the news conference a couple hours earlier, Chris Janson didn’t know Garth Brooks was waiting in the wings — he was more focused on his family. “My daughter thinks this is where she …
Mar 20
Brad Paisley returns to his honeymoon spot to help out after natural disasters
ABC/Image Group LA Brad Paisley is pitching in to help those affected by the recent wildfires and mudslides in California. The “Today” hitmaker is organizing a May 12 benefit at the Santa Barbara Bowl, with proceeds going to the community through local organizations. He’s calling it “The 2nd Responders,” as a tip of the hat to …
Mar 20
Keith Urban is “Coming Home” with pop star Julia Michaels
ABC/Image Group LA It looks like Wednesday will bring new music from Keith Urban. “There’s nothin’ in the world that feels like coming home…” the Australian superstar tweeted on Monday, along with Wednesday’s date, 3.21. The post also includes a fifteen-second snippet of a song, attached to what appears to be its artwork. The new tune “Coming Home” …
Mar 20
Blake, Chesney, Keith and Lady A are all ACM-bound
Academy of Country MusicThe list of stars you’ll see on this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards keeps growing. Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum are now set to sing on the show. They join Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line with Bebe Rexha, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, and Thomas Rhett, who previously joined the performance roster. We’re also getting our first …
Mar 20
Garth Brooks speaks out in support of Saturday’s March for Our Lives
ABC Radio Garth Brooks is voicing his support for Saturday’s student-organized March for Our Lives. During Monday night’s episode of Inside Studio G on Facebook, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year read a letter he’d received from Parkland, Florida shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez. “I believe the young people in this country can change the world. And wouldn’t that …
Mar 20
Luke Bryan defends Katy Perry’s “American Idol” kiss: “Our hearts are in the right place”
ABC/Mark LevineAfter the premiere of American Idol last week, some viewers were in an uproar over the fact that judge Katy Perry kissed contestant Ben Glaze on the lips after he said he’d never been smooched. Now, fellow judge Luke Bryan is defending Katy, saying she’s just trying to “make fun TV.” Glaze told several …
Mar 20
Tim McGraw shows his sense of humor regarding his recent collapse onstage
ABC/Image Group LATim McGraw’s intense workouts and his travel schedule may have gotten the best of him last week, but the superstar still has a sense of humor about it. The “Humble and Kind” hitmaker briefly collapsed onstage in Ireland during the Country to Country festival. Tim’s wife, Faith Hill, later returned to explain the …
Mar 20
“It was kinda weird”: Carly Pearce confesses Blake Shelton’s Country Music Freaks Tour lived up to its name
ABC/Image Group LA Carly Pearce wrapped her tour with Blake Shelton this weekend, just in time to celebrate her first #1, “Every Little Thing,” with a party Monday at CMA headquarters in Nashville. The Country Music Freaks Tour boasted a cast of characters that included Blake, Trace Adkins and Brett Eldredge, and Carly says the trek certainly lived up to its …
Mar 20
Luke Bryan and Dustin Lynch cheer Chris Janson on, as he becomes a member of the Opry
ABC RadioChris Janson officially becomes the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday night. The induction ceremony will take place in the circle of wood on the venue’s stage that was famously transported from the Opry’s longtime home at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Appropriately, it was at Chris’ sold-out show at the Ryman in February where Keith …