- Today in 1976, Waylon Jennings scored six nominations and Willie Nelson picked up five as the Country Music Association announces the finalists for its annual awards in Nashville.
- Today in 1979, Kenny Rogers received a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Today in 1992, Suzy Bogguss’ “Aces” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1992, John Michael Montgomery’s first single, “Life’s A Dance,” was released.
- Today in 1993, Vince Gill’s “Let There Be Peace On Earth” album and Martina McBride’s album, “The Way That I Am,” were released.
- Today in 1998, Shania Twain won awards in six of the eight categories for which she was nominated in the Canadian Country Music Awards.
- Today in 1999, Martina McBride’s “Emotion” album was released.
- Today in 2001, Cyndi Thomson’s debut single, “What I Really Meant To Say,” topped the “Radio & Records” country chart. The following day, it hit #1 on the “Billboard” country singles chart as well.
- Today in 2004, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Martina McBride each received double nominations for the American Music Awards.
- Today in 2005, Renee Zellweger filed for an annulment of her marriage to Kenny Chesney in Los Angeles, barely four months after the couple exchanged vows.
- Today in 2010, the two-disc Jamey Johnson album, “The Guitar Song,” was released.
- Today in 2014, Luke Bryan became the first country artist to headline at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, joined on the bill by Lee Brice and Cole Swindell.
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Parenting Has Given Thomas Rhett Some Album Ideas
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Thomas Rhett is a dad of three girls, with another one on the way, so he knows a thing or two about parenting at this point. And it looks like he’s contemplating channeling it into his music.
“One day I’m gonna make a record called PARENTING,” he shares on Instagram. “till then here’s the future track listing.. anyone else got any good titles??”
Thomas then offers up some of the titles he may want to write, including: “Eat your breakfast,” “I think you’re just sleepy,” “Where’d you learn that word,” “Don’t draw on the walls,” “Are we there yet” and more.
And apparently Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild had a few song titles to add, commenting “Hope your dad doesn’t find out,” and “No. You can’t have your own Amex.”
- ONE MORE THING! With so many kids, Thomas admits it hasn’t always been easy for him to practice patience, but the pandemic helped him with that. “I think one of the things I learned during quarantine was how impatient of a human I am,” he shares. “And I think when you’re kind of forced to be at home as long as we have been, you either stay that way or you become more patient.” He adds, “I would like to say that I came out on the other side of quarantine victorious.”
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1973, Tom T. Hall recorded “I Love” at midday at the Mercury Custom Studios in Nashville.
- Today in 1986, Reba McEntire’s “Little Rock” checks in at #1 on the Billboard country singles list.
- Today in 1996, LeAnn Rimes sang “Blue” in her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, along with “I Wanna Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart” and “Blue Moon Of Kentucky.”
- Today in 2003, The U.S. Postal Service unveiled a stamp featuring Roy Acuff during a ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The art is based on a photo that appeared in a 1949 edition of Collier’s magazine.
- Today in 2006, Kellie Pickler’s debut single, “Red High Heels,” was released.
- Today in 2009, Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” won Best Female Video during the MTV Video Music Awards. Kanye West infamously interrupted her acceptance speech at New York’s Radio City Music Hall to insist that Beyoncé should have won.
- Today in 2010, Keith Urban’s “Put You In A Song” hit the airwaves.
- Today in 2011, The Band Perry picked up a triple-platinum single award for “If I Die Young.”
- Today in 2014, Brad Paisley’s “Moonshine In The Trunk” opens in the top spot on the Billboard country albums chart.
- Today in 2014, Kenny Rogers and Little Big Town performed “God Bless America” in Baltimore during a live PBS special honoring the 200th anniversary of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The event’s lineup also featured Melissa Etheridge, Jordin Sparks, Kristen Chenoweth, Train and Smokey Robinson.
- Today in 2015, the 2015 edition of Carrie Underwood’s “Sunday Night Football” theme, “Waiting All Day For Sunday Night,” debuted on NBC.
- Today in 2017, Sturgill Simpson sailed away with Album of the Year, for “A Sailor’s Guide To Earth,” during the Americana Music Awards at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Marty Stuart & The Fabulous Superlatives earn Group/Duo of the Year, and John Prine was recognized as Artist of the Year.
- Today in 2018, a breach of peace charge was dropped against Gretchen Wilson in Enfield, Connecticut, when she agrees to donate to a local charity. She had alleged caused a ruckus at a local airport.
- Today in 2018, Jesse McReynolds had emergency surgery for a bladder blockage.
- Today in 2018, Deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein quoted Aaron Tippin during a ceremony for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division in Washington, D.C. saying, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll for anything.”
- Today in 2018, Jon Pardi scored double-platinum singles from the RIAA for “Head Over Boots” and “Dirt On My Boots,” while his “Heartache On The Dance Floor” went gold and platinum.
Nominees For The 55th Annual CMA Awards Are Here
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Nominees for the 55th Annual CMA Awards were announced yesterday, with Eric Church and Chris Stapleton tied for the most nominations with five a piece, and Gabby Barrett, the most nominated female artist, with four nods.
Other multiple nominees include Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, and Chis Young, who all have three nods.
Both Chris and Eric are nominated in the coveted Entertain of the Year category, where they will compete with Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. Eric, who won the category last year, is the only nominee this year to have wo before, meaning there’s a good chance for a first-time winner.
With three new nominations this year, Miranda extends her record as the most nominated female artist in CMA Awards history, with 58 total nods. She’s now also tied with Brad Paisley for the third most nominations overall.
Other tidbits about this year’s nods:
- In the Female Vocalist category, Carrie did not receive a nomination for the first time in 15 years. Instead, the category includes two first-time nominees, Gabby Barrett and Carly Pearce.
- In the Best New Artist category, both Mickey Guyton and Jimmie Allen are nominated, the first time in CMA Awards history that two Black artists have been nominated in the category simultaneously.
- While Morgan Wallen wasn’t eligible for individual categories because of his racist video controversy, he was eligible in the song and album categories, and his mega hit “Dangerous: The Double Album” did receive an Album of the Year nod.
- Four of today’s biggest country stars, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean, were completely shut out of CMA nods.
The 55th Annual CMA Awards air November 10th live from Nashville ABC. Check out the complete list of nominees below and click here to see nominee reactions.
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Eric Church
- Luke Combs
- Miranda Lambert
- Chris Stapleton
- Carrie Underwood
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
- “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
- “The Good Ones” – Gabby Barrett
- “Hell of a View” – Eric Church
- “One Night Standards” – Ashley McBryde
- “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- “29” – Carly Pearce
- “Dangerous: The Double Album” – Morgan Wallen
- “Heart” – Eric Church
- “Skeletons” – Brothers Osborne
- “Starting Over” – Chris Stapleton
SONG OF THE YEAR
- “Forever After All”
- Songwriters: Luke Combs, Drew Parker, Robert Williford
- “The Good Ones”
- Songwriters: Gabby Barrett, Zach Kale, Emily Landis, Jim McCormick
- “Hell of a View”
- Songwriters: Casey Beathard, Eric Church, Monty Criswell
- “One Night Standards”
- Songwriters: Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally, Ashley McBryde
- “Starting Over”
- Songwriters: Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Gabby Barrett
- Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde
- Maren Morris
- Carly Pearce
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
- Dierks Bentley
- Eric Church
- Luke Combs
- Thomas Rhett
- Chris Stapleton
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Lady A
- Little Big Town
- Midland
- Old Dominion
- Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Florida Georgia Line
- Maddie & Tae
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
- “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan
- “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
- “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King & Miranda Lambert
- “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
- “Half of My Hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
- “Chasing After You” – Ryan Hurd with Maren Morris
- Director: TK McKamy
- “Famous Friends” – Chris Young with Kane Brown
- Director: Peter Zavadil
- “Gone” – Dierks Bentley
- Directors: Wes Edwards, Travis Nicholson, Ed Pryor, Running Bear, Sam Siske
- “Half of My Hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini (featuring Kenny Chesney)
- Director: Patrick Tracy
- “Younger Me” – Brothers Osborne
- Director: Reid Long
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Jimmie Allen
- Ingrid Andress
- Gabby Barrett
- Mickey Guyton
- HARDY
Source: CMA Awards
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1983, unknown singer/songwriter Kix Brooks debuted on the country charts with the song “Baby, When Your Heart Breaks Down.” The song was a failure – it only reached #73. Eight years later, Kix was #1 with his new partner Ronnie Dunn, and their first single, “Brand New Man.”
- Today in 1982, the “Highways & Heartaches” album by Ricky Skaggs was released.
- Today in 1988, the first Elvis Presley credit card was issued.
- Today in 1991, the Judds’ “Greatest Hits Volume 2” album was released.
- Today in 1998, Mac Davis received the 2117th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Today in 1998, the albums “Crank It Up – The Music Album” by Jeff Foxworthy and “The Restless Kind” by Travis Tritt, were certified platinum. On the same day, Faith Hill’s album, “It Matters To Me,” was certified triple platinum.
- Today in 1999, the Dixie Chicks confirmed that they’d perform during Sheryl Crow’s concert in New York’s Central Park on September 14th.
- Today in 1999, Kenny Chesney‘s single, “You Had Me From Hello,” was #1 in “Radio & Records.”
- Today in 2000, SHeDAISY performed at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament at the USGA Tennis Center in New York City. The girls sang an acapella version of “The Battle Hymn Of The Republic” for the 22,000 capacity crowd between the men’s and women’s semi-finals.
- Today in 2001, Kenny Chesney was dubbed “Country’s Hottest Bachelor” in “Country Weekly” magazine.
- Today in 2001, Chris Cagle married Elizabeth Filer. The couple divorced a year later.
- Today in 2001, Carolyn Dawn Johnson walked into the Canadian Country Music Awards with a record 10 nominations and emerged with five trophies.
- Today in 2002, Radney Foster’s “Another Way To Go” album, Rebecca Lynn Howard’s “Forgive” CD and Aaron Tippin’s “Stars & Stripes” project arrived in stores.
- Today in 2005, the MTV stations aired “ReACT Now: Music & Relief,” a Hurricane Katrina benefit with Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Paul McCartney, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, Sugarland and more.
- Today in 2010, The Zac Brown Band’s video for “As She’s Walking Away” featuring Alan Jackson premiered on CMT.
- Today in 2013, Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift topped the list of finalists for the 47th annual Country Music Association awards list with six nominations apiece.
- Today in 2016, Bacon artist Nancy Baker unveiled a bust of Chris Stapleton, made completely of bacon strips, at the annual LouFest in St. Louis. See it HERE.
- Today in 2016, Blake Shelton brought out Gwen Stefani at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena for the second night in a row to duet on “Go Ahead And Break My Heart.” On top of that, Shelton donated $600,000 – the proceeds from both nights – to the Jimmy Everest Children’s Hospital.
- Today in 2017, a dapper Thomas Rhett served as a judge during the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. Miss Louisiana offered up a ventriloquist version of “I Wanna Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” and Miss Alabama sings “Over The Rainbow.” Sam Hunt’s “Body Like A Back Road” also played as background music during the broadcast.
- Today in 2017, Jessie James Decker performed the national anthem and Hunter Hayes played the halftime show as the Tennessee Titans opened their NFL season with a 26-16 loss against the Oakland Raiders at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
- Today in 2017, following a moment of silence for victims of Hurricane Harvey, Clay Walker sang the national anthem at Houston’s NRG Stadium. The Eli Young Band also performed at halftime as the Jacksonville Jaguars took the Texans, 29-7, during the opening weekend of the NFL season.
MEET THE H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: “MAXX”
Posted on by Bob Ballard
This week’s H & S Feed & Country Store Pet of the Week is “Maxx”, a 3 year old American Pit Bull mix. Maxx is a pretty good sized fella, but is very sweet and very well-mannered. Maxx also seems to get along well with other dogs. Maxx is neutered, vaccinated, and is looking for his furr-ever home.
If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Maxx or any of the pets at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, visit https://www.stephenmemorial.
Check out our visit about Maxx with Terry Gott from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:
Trace Adkins Lands Lead Role In Fox Country Drama
Posted on by Bob Ballard
Trace Adkins has landed the lead role in Fox’s upcoming drama series “Monarch,” joining Susan Sarandon and Anna Friel.
Trace will play Abie Roman, the reigning king of country music, who has created a country music dynasty with his wife Dottie Cantrell Roman, played by Sarandon.
According to the description of the series, their country dynasty is “synonymous with authenticity” but it turns out “their success is a lie.” And when their reign is threatened, daughter Nicolette “Nicky” Roman (Friel) “will stop at nothing to protect” it.
“Monarch” is set for a two-night premiere January 30th, after the NFC Championship, and February 1st.
Source: Variety
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1956, Elvis Presley made his first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” He sang four songs, including “Love Me Tender” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” shot only from the waist up (because of his naughty hip movements). Charles Laughton was hosting in place of Sullivan, who was recuperating from an auto accident.
- Today in 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis took “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On” to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
- Today in 1968, Buck Owens performed for president Lyndon Johnson at the White House. His set list includes “Act Naturally,” “Together Again,” “Gentle On My Mind,” “Orange Blossom Special” and “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail.”
- Today in 1989, the single, “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” by Garth Brooks made its country chart debut on its way to #1.
- Today in 1989, the late Keith Whitley was at #1 on the Billboard country chart with “I Wonder Do You Think Of Me.” Keith had passed the previous May.
- Today in 1991, Tracy Byrd married his wife, Michelle.
- Today in 1996, Bill Monroe died at the Northcrest Medical Center in Springfield, Tennessee, five months after suffering a stroke. Acknowledged as the “Father of Bluegrass,” he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1939 and entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970.
- Today in 2001, the second season of Billy Ray Cyrus’ PAX television series, “Doc.”
- Today in 2002, Alan Jackson performed in Washington, D.C. as the nation’s capital began its remembrance of the September/2001 terrorist attacks. His performance at The Pentagon aired live on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Later that evening, he performed as part of the “Concert for America” at the Kennedy Center. That show, which also featured Reba McEntire, was taped for broadcast two days later (on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks).
- Today in 2004, Willie Nelson performs a concert in Plains, Georgia, for an upcoming TV special, “CMT Homecoming: Jimmy Carter In Plains.”
- Today in 2007, Joe Nichols married Heather Singleton at Whitfield Chapel in Savannah, Georgia.
- Today in 2011, Lady A’s “We Owned The Night” video debuted on CMT.
- Today in 2013, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert’s duet, “We Were Us,” was released.
- Today in 2016, Glen Campbell tributes bookend the CBS special, “The ACM Honors.” Hosts Lady A opened with “Galveston.” The close had Blake Shelton singing “Southern Nights,” Dierks Bentley’s “Gentle On My Mind,” Keith Urban’s “Wichita Lineman,” Toby Keith’s “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” and all four on “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
Tim McGraw Has His Own Space At Home To Watch Football
Posted on by Bob Ballard
The NFL football season kicks off tomorrow and Tim McGraw definitely has a place in his home where he goes to to enjoy watching the games.
“Well, I have like one little sort of square corner in my house,” he says. “I have my gym and my little area – well it’s more my area now because now that all the girls are out of the house.”
But Tim admits it rarely winds up being just his area, as his three girls all like to watch in there, noting, “When the girls are home my area to watch TV sort of turned into their area.”
But lucky for Tim he doesn’t usually have to fight with his daughters about what to watch. He explains, “most of my kids and my wife love to watch football, so I can sort of watch it anywhere I want.”
Source: Tim McGraw
This day in Country Music History
Posted on by Bob Ballard
- Today in 1973, he‘s been this far several times: Conway Twitty reached #1 in Billboard with “You’ve Never Been This Far Before.”
- Today in 1979, Conway Twitty hit the top of the charts with “I May Never Get To Heaven.”
- Today in 1986, George Strait’s “Merry Christmas Strait To You” album was released.
- Today in 1987, the “Greatest Hits Volume II” collection by George Strait was released.
- Today in 1995, “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw topped the country singles charts.
- Today in 1997, Kenny Rogers’ “Greatest Hits” album was certified gold.
- Today in 1997, LeAnn Rimes’ version of “How Do I Live” is certified platinum.
- Today in 1998, Vince Gill’s “Breath Of Heaven” album was released.
- Today in 1998, Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell proclaimed the week of September 8-13th as “Garth Brooks Week” in Philly. During a formal ceremony at the First Union Center the Mayor presented Garth with a personalized replica of the Liberty Bell.
- Today in 1999, the Dixie Chicks’ album, “Fly,” debuted at #1 on both “Billboard’s” Top Country Album and the all-genre Billboard 200 charts. It marked the first time a country duo/group ever did so. The ladies repeated their feat with their current album, “Home.” In fact, the first-week sales (nearly 780,000) of their that project dwarfed those of “Fly,” which moved 341,000 copies in its first week.
- Today in 2000, Alan Jackson’s single, “It Must Be Love,” topped on “Radio & Records” country chart.
- Today in 2007, Rodney Atkins climbed to #1 on the Billboard chart with “These Are My People.”
- Today in 2013, Carrie Underwood debuted as the voice of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” theme, “Waiting All Day For Sunday Night.” The game had George Strait serving as honorary captain of the Dallas Cowboys, who hosted the New York Giants.
- Today in 2015, it was confirmed that Glen Campbell’s family had moved him back into their Nashville home as he lived with the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Today in 2015, a plaque was placed in front of a building in Frederick, Maryland, designating it as the former home of Patsy Cline.
- Today in 2016, Taylor Swift donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe account set up to help cover the funeral and medical expenses for a fan who died in a car accident. The same day, she made a half-hour phone call to an 18-year-old Cincinnati fan who was dying of a congenital heart defect.
- Today in 2017, Kip Moore’s “Slowheart” album was released. On the same day, Toby Keith album, “The Bus Songs,” was also released.
- Today in 2017, Troy Gentry was killed following a helicopter crash in Medford, New Jersey. He was half of a Grand Ole Opry-member Montgomery Gentry that successfully knit country and Southern rock together, winning the Country Music Association’s Vocal Duo trophy in 2000. Their hits included “My Town,” “Lucky Man” and “Roll With Me.” In the hours after his death, one of the first public commemorations happened at an Old Dominion show in Sandwich, Illinois. The group was performing at the Sandwich Fair remember Troy by covering Montgomery Gentry’s “My Town.”
- Today in 2017, Don Williams died in Mobile, Alabama. A 2010 inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the “Gentle Giant” left a string of 44 Top 10 singles, including landmark hits “Tulsa Time,” “I Believe In You” and “Good Ole Boys Like Me.” Hours after his passing, Brothers Osborne paid homage by covering “Tulsa Time” during a show in Athens, Ohio.
- Today in 2017, Kelsea Ballerini, Hunter Hayes and Maren Morris are part of a multi-network TV special, “Entertainment Industry Foundation Presents: XQ Super School Live.”
- Today in 2017, Rory Feek performed publicly for the first time since the death of his wife, Joey Feek, at his home in Pottsville, Tennessee.
- Today in 2018, Dierks Bentley headlined Madison Square Garden in New York for the first time. He brought out Brothers Osborne for “Burning Man” and team’s with LANCO’s Brandon Lancaster on “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident).”
- Today in 2019, Carrie Underwood premiered her new version of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” theme, “Waiting All Day For Sunday Night,” featuring Joan Jett. The New England Patriots thump the Pittsburgh Steelers in the game, 33-3.
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