Kacey Musgraves discusses her divorce from Ruston Kelly in the new issue of “V” magazine, and admits in the end it was for the best.

“When you lose something in your life — it might be a friendship or relationship, or even a business relationship or something like that — we’re all conditioned to think, ‘Oh my gosh, this one thing is ending. This is the worst; it shouldn’t be this way,’ ” she said. “But it’s really cool that life can have this beautiful surprise around the corner from you.”

She adds, “It’s the ultimate decision you can make for yourself, to move on from something that isn’t serving you or that other person anymore.”

Source: People

The Country Music Hall of Fame inducted a new class this weekend, including Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart and songwriter Dean Dillon.

The event took place at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater, with stars like George Strait, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney and Eric Church on hand to pay tribute to the Hall of Fame’s 2020 class.

George and Kenny paid tribute to Dillon, with George performing “The Chair,” while Kenny performed Dillon’s 2002 hit “A Lot of Things Different,” which he co-wrote with Bill Anderson. Brittney Spencer also paid tribute to Dillon with her take on “Tennessee Whiskey,” most recently made famous by Chris Stapleton.

Emmylou Harris and Charlie Worsham collaborated on “Tempted” to pay tribute to Stuart, while Ashley McBryde performed “The Observation of a Crow.” “The question gets asked, how do you describe this moment?” he said in his acceptance remarks. “Well, this is the ultimate. There’s this, and there’s everything else.”

Finally, Eric, Alan and Shooter Jennings, paid tribute to Hank Jr., who was being inducted 60 years after his father Hank Williams, Sr. became a member. Shooter kicked things off with “Feelin’ Better,” followed by Eric, who played Hank Jr.’s “A Country Boy Can Survive,” and Alan who performed “The Blues Man.”

“Well, the good thing is, this didn’t happen yesterday, which was the opening day of deer season,” Hank Jr. joked while accepting his honor. He then referenced some of his biggest hits sharing, “’All my rowdy friends’ are coming over tonight. I was ‘born to boogie,’ and this,” motioning to his just-unveiled Hall of Fame plaque, is a ‘family tradition.'”

• This weekend’s induction was for the 2020 class, which was postponed by the pandemic. The 2021 class, Ray Charles, the Judds, and musicians Eddie Bayers and Pete Drake, will be inducted next year.

Well, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Taylor Swift’s “Red (Taylor’s Version)” tops the “Billboard” 200 Album chart this week.

Tay moved 605,000 equivalent album units to earn the number one spot, giving her the second-largest week for an album this year behind Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy,” which moved 613,000. Of Tay’s units, 369,000 were in traditional album sales, making it the best-selling album of the week, and the best-selling album this year.

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” is now Taylor’s second re-recorded album to debut at number one. She previously did it in April with “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).” It is also her 10^th number one making her only the second female artist to have at least 10 number ones. Barbra Streisand is the other, and has 11.

But Taylor’s album isn’t the only one in the Top 10. Morgan Wallen’s “Dangerous: The Double Album” continues its chart domination, landing at six this week.

Plus, Jason Aldean’s latest, “Macon” debuts at eight, moving 37,000 equivalent album units, 19,000 in traditional album sales.  The album is Jason’s ninth Top 10 record.

Source: Billboard

The 2021 American Music Awards go down Sunday and it’s bound to be another great night of music.

Country performers for this year’s show include Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Walker Hayes, Kane Brown and Mickey Guyton. Also performing on the show are BTS, who are set to give not one, but two performances, teaming with Coldplay for their collaboration “My Universe,” as well as Megan Thee Stallion for “Butter,” Olivia Rodrigo, Silk Sonic, Tyler The Creator, New Edition and New Kids on the Block, Bad Bunny, Tainy, Julieta Venegas, Chloe, Italian rock band Måneskin, with Diplo to DJ the show.

• Chris Stapleton and Gabby Barrett lead this year’s country nomines with three each. Other multiple nominees include Luke Bryan and Luke Combs, who each have two, as does Morgan Wallen, although producers made it clear he will not be invited to the telecast.

The American Music Awards, hosted by Cardi B, air Sunday on ABC, live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.  Check out the country nominees below:

FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST

• Chris Stapleton
• Jason Aldean
• Luke Bryan
• Luke Combs
• Morgan Wallen

FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST

• Carrie Underwood
• Gabby Barrett
• Kacey Musgraves
• Maren Morris
• Miranda Lambert

FAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUP

• Dan + Shay
• Florida Georgia Line
• Lady A
• Old Dominion
• Zac Brown Band

FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUM

• Chris Stapleton “Starting Over”
• Gabby Barrett “Goldmine”
• Lee Brice “Hey World”
• Luke Bryan “Born Here Live Here Die Here”
• Morgan Wallen “Dangerous: The Double Album”

FAVORITE COUNTRY SONG

• Chris Stapleton “Starting Over”
• Chris Young & Kane Brown “Famous Friends”
• Gabby Barrett “The Good Ones”
• Luke Combs “Forever After All”
• Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”