The CMT Music Awards have already announced that Kane Brown and Kelsea Ballerini will return as hosts this year – but they announced yesterday that the two will also perform. Also announced, a whole slew of big names who’ll take the stage to play that night.

Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Keith Urban and Lainey Wilson have been added to the performing lineup, joining previously announced performances by Carrie Underwood, Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown.

The 2023 CMT Music Awards will air live April 2 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET, and is also available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Source: People

Darius Rucker has announced his “Starting Fires” tour – and he’s showcasing a few up-and-comers as openers as he heads across the country.

The trek will begin with a stop in Roanoke, Virginia on June 15 before continuing for 20 more performances across the U.S., ending with an October 13 show at the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, Tennessee. Americana outfit Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and rising country artist Drew Green will serve as openers for select dates of the tour.

Tickets for most dates will go on sale beginning Friday, March 17, at 10 AM local time. Tickets for tour stops in Farmingville, New York and Highland, California go on sale beginning Monday, March 20, at 10 AM local time. Check out all the tour dates here.

Source: The Boot

Kane Brown the singer, the awards-show host – the actor? He’s already crushed it doing the first two – and now fans will get to see how he does as an actor.

“Acting has been a life-long dream of mine, and to make my debut on a hit series like “Fire Country” is such an honor,” Brown said in a statement. Obviously we’ve seen the young superstar rock the stage for years; he’s co-hosted – and will again – the CMT Music Awards with Kelsea Ballerini on April 2. But five days later, we’ll see how he does playing someone other than himself.

On the April 7 episode of the CBS show “Fire Country”, Brown plays the character of Robin, an “enigmatic, modern-day train hopper” who helps injured train patients at a crash scene. He adds that the character is someone who he is “excited for people to meet.”

Series creator and star Max Theriot says, “As soon as Kane stepped onto set, it felt like he had been a part of the “Fire Country” family from the beginning. I was really blown away by how natural and honest he is in each scene. To top it off, he’s just a wonderful person – kind, excited to learn, and fun to be around… dude is the real deal!” So, career goal achieved. Whether it’s a one-time deal like George Strait in “Pure Country,” or a frequent side-hustle like it is for Tim McGraw remains to be seen.

Source: People

Tim McGraw has duetted with many famous singers: Faith Hill, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kenny Chesney, Nelly – but his latest duet partner is someone music fans won’t know.

Michael Hugo is an average dad, living with his wife and two daughters in Florida. Last April the Hugo family received some bad news: Michael has Stage 4 glioblastoma – a diagnosis that most likely means he won’t live to see his 6 and 7-year-old daughters eventually get married. But Michael wanted his daughters to have a very special gift on their very special days – and he reached out to Tim McGraw for help – someone he knew could relate, as Tim’s dad Tug McGraw passed from the very same cancer.

Once Tim’s fans saw Mike’s video and tagged Tim in it, the singer eventually saw the request – and not only did he make it happen, he travelled to Florida to meet the family and make it happen in person. The request was a simple one: duet with Mike on the song “My Little Girl” – as a gift to his daughters on the day they wed, knowing he may well not be there in person. Tim, a father of three daughters himself, made it happen – and the family now not only has a forever gift for down the road, but memories of a country star who cared enough to bring that gift to life.

Source: WhiskeyRiff