Garth Brooks doesn’t want to be Entertainer of the Year anymore. The singer held a press conference yesterday to announce that he’s permanently taken his name out of the running for CMA Entertainer of the Year.

Garth has already won the award seven times, and after last year’s win was shrouded in controversy, because a lot of people thought Carrie Underwood deserved the honor, he decided it was time for him to bow out.

“It’s time for somebody else to hold that award and know what that feels like. That feeling is so great, so wonderful that I want everyone to feel that,” he said. “It’s the coolest nod from the industry that somebody can get. We’ve been lucky enough to carry it home a number of times. It’s somebody else’s turn.”

Garth said he talked to the CMA about creating an “Entertainer of the Year Emeritus” honor, but while they were open to the idea, it never happened, so he decided to do what he could to give someone else a shot.

Speaking of the controversy around last year’s win he noted, “We all witnessed what happened last year, and it made ‘Entertainer of the Year’ not so fun,” adding, “I just want it to be fun for everybody, because that’s what award shows should be.” He added, “with all the love in the world and all the gratefulness because the last thing I want to do is seem ungrateful to the CMAs and everyone who’s voted for us, we’re officially pulling ourselves out of entertainer of the year.”

Interestingly, the CMA says in reality, Garth really can’t take himself out of the running for the award. They say they can’t pull names off the ballot, and if the eligible members vote for Garth he will be on the ballot. The second round of ballots go out tomorrow, and if Garth has made the cut his name will be on it, and it’s up to the voters to choose or not choose Garth, which may have played a part in the timing of his announcement.

Other Garth news from the press conference:

While he’s taken himself out of the running for Entertainer of the Year, he would be more than happy to be nominated in other categories, including recognition for “Dive Bar,” his duet with Blake Shelton.
Garth announced he’s being rescheduling his concert at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium because of the coronavirus. The show, which was supposed to open the venue, was scheduled to take place August 22nd, but has now been moved to February 27th, 2021.

Garth and his team had a COVID-19 scare earlier this month, and it turns out it was his daughter Allie who tested positive. Garth and Trisha Yearwood hadn’t come in contact with Allie, but they did come in contact with her husband, which is why they shut everything down. Luckily, everyone tested negative, and Allie is now feeling okay. “We were back up and running pretty quick,” he said. “She quarantined for another 14 days after her time as well, so she’s feeling great.”

Source: Garth Brooks

Back in November Sam Hunt was arrested for DUI, and, in case you missed it, now he’s opening up about it in a new interview with HitsDailyDouble.

“It happened,” Sam shares. “People in my camp were talking about suppressing it, but why would I be afraid to talk about it? If it happens, it’s true.”

Sam says on that night he was out with friends, and he left his phone in an Uber. After going back to his friends and ordering pizza he fell asleep on the couch. He notes he “woke up groggy,” explaining, “I should’ve been more conscious, but I wasn’t. So I take responsibility.”

Sam insists he was “raised to respect (alcohol).” He shares, “Moderation is important. I’ve never wanted to glorify it,” adding, “It’s a cheap trick in country music, and I’ve always wanted to avoid that. I don’t like using [drinking] as a party song; for me, that wouldn’t be honest.”

Source: HitsDailyDouble

Garth Brooks has something big to announce. The singer revealed on “Inside Studio G” that tomorrow at 10 am CT he’ll be holding a press conference, which he says is going to be a lot more “intimate” than ones he’s had to announce big stadium shows.

As for what he’ll be announcing, he didn’t spill although he said it’s going to be “a lot more along the personal lines meets career lines.”

Like a lot of us, Miranda Lambert is ready for life to get back to normal. So, what is she looking forward to most when that happens? Well, Miranda can’t wait for the simple things like “sitting on a deck with my friends and having a beer,” but she’s also looking forward to getting back to work.

“I guess the biggest part of going back to normal is the road, you know,” she shares. “I enjoyed the break, I’ve been doing this a long time but I also miss you know, the fans. I miss the band and crew.”

Finally, she notes, “I miss the feeling of sharing in the music with all these people that now I not able to see so I’m definitely looking forward to that.”

ONE MORE THING! Although “Billboard” hasn’t officially released their charts for the week, Miranda has announced that her song “Bluebird” is the new number one. “:Bluebird” is officially a number one song,” she shares. “It’s been 8 years since I had a number 1 on the billboard charts and 6 years on mediabase. I have spent my life doing what I love and I feel more blessed and humbled than ever to have this song of hope resonate with you all.”

Taylor Swift has saved 2020. At least that’s what her fans think now that she’s just dropped the surprise album “Folklore.” Taylor surprised everyone with the news just yesterday, sharing on social media that it’s “an entire album of brand new songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.”

“Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening,” she writes on Instagram, referring to her Loverfest stadium shows, “but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen. And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore.”

While the songs wre written in “isolation,” Taylor did collaborate on the project with The National’s Aaron Dessner, who co-wrote and produced 11 of the 16 songs, as well as Bon Iver, who co-wrote and sings on one of them, Jack Antonoff, and more.

“Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect’ time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed,” she notes. “My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with.”

But that’s not all…

Late last night Taylor released a video for the track “Cardigan,” which she co-wrote and directed herself. “The entire shoot was overseen by a medical inspector, everyone wore masks, stayed away from each other,” Tay writes, “and I even did my own hair, makeup, and styling ????.” Check it out to the right, as well as clips of some of the album’s other tracks.

In addition to the 16-track standard edition of “Folklore,” there will be a deluxe edition with a bonus track called “the lakes.” In honor of the record being her eighth studio album, Tay’s made, “8 deluxe CD editions and 8 deluxe vinyl editions that are available for one week????.” She adds, “Each deluxe edition has unique covers, photos, and artwork. Available exclusively at taylorswift.com.”

Taylor’s collaborator Aaron Dessner took to social media to share what it was like working with Taylor. “I was excited and honored when Taylor approached me in late April about maybe writing some songs remotely together,” Dessner wrote. “I’ve rarely been so inspired by someone and it’s still hard to believe this even happened — these songs came together in such a challenging time.”

After releasing the album Taylor shared, “In isolation my imagination has run wild and this album is the result, a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness,” adding, “Picking up a pen was my way of escaping into fantasy, history, and memory. I’ve told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it’s up to you to pass them down.”
And just to note, Taylor decided to drop her surpise album on the same day her enemy Kanye West was scheduled to drop his record “Donda.” Coincidence? Who knows?