Garth Brooks helped pay tribute to Randy Travis last week when he was awarded the CMT Artist of a Lifetime Award, and now Randy is returning the favor.

Randy penned a heartfelt note to Garth posted to Facebook, writing, “When my last silent prayer is said, I’ll thank God for Garth Brooks in my life.”

Randy notes, “Garth Brooks came along right behind me and kept cheering me on as he climbed his own ‘taller’ mountain! I’m so glad one was near the other,” adding, “I’m on the other side of my mountain, so we don’t see each other as much; but, never a day goes by that I doubt Garth is still there for me — telling the world now, what he told me back then.”

Finally Randy shares, “Thank you, Garth, for the time you always take from your climb, to check on me and share your kind words with the world about what I meant to you. I may have helped bring our genre back to life, but you taught it how to live!”

The CMA Awards has found its host. Luke Bryan has been tapped to host the 55^th Annual CMA Awards airing live November 10^th from Nashville on ABC.

Luke, a two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Award winner, will be hosting the CMAs for the very first time. He is also the first solo host for the show in 18 years. Vince Gill was the last person to host solo, back in 2003.

“The CMA Awards is one of the biggest nights of the year for Country Music,” Luke shares. “Being asked to host the CMA Awards was definitely something I put a lot of thought into before answering. The pressure that comes along with that can be overwhelming, but knowing I get to help honor and celebrate so many of my friends, I knew it was something I couldn’t turn down.” He adds, “I’m looking forward to making it fun and memorable and using this platform to continue to make Country Music shine.”

Eric Church and Chris Stapleton are tied for the most CMA nominations this year with five a piece. Luke is nominated for Musical Event of the Year for his Jordan Davis collab “Buy Dirt.”

Source: CMA

Lady A’s latest single “Like A Lady” is centered around a strong female who knows what she wants and isn’t going to sit around waiting for a man to get it. Hillary Scott says the song is about “female empowerment,” which is what she loves about it.

“It’s not just about getting all fancy in heels and a dress,” she says. “It’s about just feeling comfortable in your skin, and that is what makes being a woman sexy.”

Source: Lady A

Miranda Lambert is back with new music. The singer just dropped the brand new song, “If I Was A Cowboy.”

“I wrote this song with my new friend, Jesse Frazier,” Miranda shares. “We met doing the remix of “Tequila Does” and he and I just got together one day, one afternoon for a write and this is what came out of it.”

She adds, “You know, it’s funny, he’s a Detroit boy and I’m an East Texan, but somehow we wrote a song about the Wild West together. So it’s pretty cool.”

Clint Black and wife Lisa Hartman Black will celebrate their 30^th wedding anniversary on October 20^th and they are opening up about the secrets to their long-lasting relationship.

“Love is something that you nurture and protect,” Clint tells “People.” “We’ve grown together in our relationship and never apart.”

Clint says that his love for Lisa has been the “biggest influence” on his music, noting, “Once we fell in love then any love song I wrote had to ring true to who we are.”

The couple is set to hit the road next month for their first tour together, and Lisa admits she’s “going to be terrified.” But, she notes, “It’s going to be fun, but it’s a lot of work, so it’s a new challenge.”

Source: People