Steve Wariner and Blake Shelton Duet on Hit Song “Lynda” During Special Grand Ole Opry Performance

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Blake Shelton performs with Steve Wariner at The Grand Ole Opry on Country Music News Blog.

When asked who his dream Opry duet partner was in an interview, Blake Shelton answered “Steve Wariner.” It’s not surprising as Wariner has had one of the longest-lasting and most influential careers in country music history. On Thursday night, during a special star-packed CMA Week Opry performance, the pair sang a duet on “Lynda” — one of the singer/songwriter’s 22 No. 1 hits. 2017 also marks the 30th Anniversary of the song released in 1987. “I am humbled by Blake’s answer to that question and singing with him on the Grand Ole Opry stage was a heck of a time. He’s one of the giants of today so I am glad we got to do this,” said Steve Wariner.

A Look Back At The History Of The CMT Music Awards

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CMT Music Awards 2017 on Country Music News Blog!

Who among us hasn’t been both embarrassed and enthralled when our parents pull out the old photo album and start walking us through the pictures of our past? Things aren’t much different when we start paging through the moments that made up country music history. Some are legendary moments in the making while others are disasters just waiting to unfold, but they are all a part of where we came from. Join me, WhiskeyChick, as I take a look today through the story of the CMT Music Awards! While the award show has had its roots in Nashville since 1967, first as the Music City News Awards, then later as the The Nashville Network’s Viewer’s Choice Awards, then finally as the CMT Flameworthy Video Music Awards the ceremony is now known as simply the CMT Music Awards. These awards separate themselves from other established awards shows by putting the main focus on fan voting and on in-show performances with the actual presentation of trophies taking a back seat. Over the years those performances have been nothing short of amazing, so let’s take a look at a few: When CMT took over the award show they were trying to cross over the mainstream audience from their sister station MTV and this is obvious in the focus they put on flashy pop-styled performances. This of course turned a lot of the more traditional fans away from the show all together but cemented the CMT Awards as an influence in the younger markets. Shania Twain – 2002 CMT Music Awards – “I’m Gonna Get You Good” Brooks & Dunn feat. ZZ Top – 2002 CMT Music Awards – “Only In America” As the awards grew up alongside technology, the balance between pop and flash and classic country crooning started to settle into more epic showcases of modern talent. Keith Urban – 2004 CMT Music Awards – Opening the show with “Who Wouldn’t Want To Me” Rascal Flatts – 2004 CMT Music Awards – “I Melt” Eventually the channel realized they had an opportunity with this younger audience to have a lot more fun than those other stuffed-shirt formal affairs and started showing their softer side with comedic hosts like Jeff Foxworthy to kick things off. 2005 CMT Music Awards opener But don’t let all that fun and funny fool you… they’re still all about the performance here! Carrie Underwood – 2006 CMT Music Awards – “Before He Cheats” Of course some of those moments are ones the country bloggers tend to sweep under the rug, but can we all take a moment and admit that this pairing got all us parents misty-eyed JUST long enough to forget about Billy Ray’s achey breaky heart after watching his baby girl swinging on a wrecking ball? Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus – 2008 CMT Music Awards – “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” Of course, who can forget the moment another teenage sweetheart took over country radio in a way nobody saw coming! Taylor Swift – 2009 CMT Continue reading A Look Back At The History Of The CMT Music Awards→

Voting Still Open for CMT Music Video of the Year!

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CMT Music Awards 2017 on Country Music News Blog!

It’s not too late to say you care… about who wins Video of the Year at the 2017 CMT Music Awards! Take a gander at our nominees below, then click on over to CMT.com to cast your vote! Carrie Underwood – “Church Bells” Artists of Then, Now & Forever – “Forever Country Cole Swindell – “Middle of a Memory” Florida Georgia Line – “H.O.L.Y.” Keith Urban – “Blue Ain’t Your Color” Luke Bryan – “Huntin, Fishin, and Lovin Every Day” Miranda Lambert – “Vice” With just a few hours until show time, CMT today revealed the finalists for the highly-coveted ‘Video of the Year’ award at the “2017 CMT Music Awards,” the loudest night in country music. Fan votes narrowed the pack down to Carrie Underwood, Cole Swindell, Florida Georgia Line, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and the CMA- produced 50th anniversary video, “Artists of Then, Now & Forever.” If Underwood wins she will maintain her record of most “Video of the Year” wins, with seven won.  Finalists were announced this morning on the Today Show with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, which aired lived from Nashville. Voting is now open at CMT.com for these seven finalists and voting will continue through the live show.

Brantley Gilbert Announces Baby Boy With A Blast!

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Brantley and Amber Gilbert Baby Gender Reveal on Country Music News Blog!

Brantley Gilbert has never seemed like much of a traditionalist, so when it came time to let friends and family know the gender of his and wife Amber’s coming first born, of course he thought outside of the box! Surrounded by around 40 of his closest friends and relatives, Brantley carefully loaded a rifle, took aim at a specially loaded Tannerite target in the distance, and fired. The moment the resulting cloud of blue smoke came bellowing up, cheers and tears started flowing all around! “Everybody was crying,” Gilbert exclusively told People Magazine about the reaction. “I turned around, and I think that’s when it hit me that everybody’s wanted this for us as much as we did for so long. When the blue cloud went up, well, that made it even more real. Now we know it’s a little boy, and he’s going to have to get ready for a whole lot of love.” “It seemed like a fun, different way to do the reveal,” says the man with the back-to-back platinum albums of shooting the target “about the size of a beef jerky container” packed with powder. “And it felt like something that I’d really do. But I don’t think any of us thought we would get so emotional.” Read more about Brantley Gilbert’s big baby gender reveal from our friends at People Country!

Wynonna Judd Releases First Music Video in 14 Years ‘Keeps Me Alive’

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Wynonna Judd on Country Music News Blog

In a day full of hot news, it doesn’t get any hotter than this for me! As a lifelong nearly obsessive fan of The Judds, finding out about Wynonna‘s first new music video in 14 years in the same moment you hear that The Judds are releasing their All-Time Greatest Hits on June 30th, my head and heart are both in a whirl. The mother-daughter duo has been hands-down one of the most sensational acts in country music for decades and there’s no reason why their music should live on in today’s Nashville landscape. Let’s dig in deeper as we take a closer listen to Wynonna’s sultry, bluesy “Keeps Me Alive” which just sends chills down my spine. From Wynonna’s press team: Wynonna Judd releases her first music video in 14 years, “Keeps Me Alive.” Along with her band, The Big Noise, this special project also features American guitarist Derek Trucks. The visually captivating video was shot at the historic Oaklands Mansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and directed by Todd Cassetty of HiFi Fusion. Over the weekend (June 3), the video premiered on AMC’s after The Son which stars Pierce Brosnan. More about The Judds All-Time Greatest Hits: Together, Country Music icons Wynonna and Naomi Judd made musical history throughout their career receiving eight Gold and eight Platinum records, selling over 20 million albums and scoring twenty Top 10 hits between 1984-1990. Now, Curb Records is excited to bring fans the ultimate collection of those years together. The Judds – All-Time Greatest Hits will be released on Friday, June 30 – and will feature each of the classic hits that helped to make them a household name on Country Radio in the 1980s and 1990s. “Some things continue to get better with time, like fine wine and the Judds music,” says Naomi Judd. “I’m so proud that our music has stood the test of time. It makes my heart smile when I turn on Country Radio and I can sing along with our hits.” The twenty-one song set will feature each of the duo’s top ten hits, as well as “You Can’t Go Home Again (Flies On The Butter),” a recording from 2011. Beginning with the classic #1 hit “Mama, He’s Crazy” in 1984, and continuing through 1991’s “One Hundred and Two,” the duo established a career that will stand with one of the top duets in Country Music history. Fourteen times the duo topped the Billboard Country Singles chart, and each of their five studio albums were certified Gold or Platinum. Along with their sales and airplay success, The Judds also dominated the awards shows like no artist before their time. Starting in 1984, the duo netted nine CMA Awards, including a run from 1985-1991 as either Vocal Duo or Vocal Group of the Year. Their trophies also include the 1985 Single of the Year “Why Not Me,” which is also included on The Judds – All Time Greatest Hits. They also won seven straight trophies from the Academy of Continue reading Wynonna Judd Releases First Music Video in 14 Years ‘Keeps Me Alive’→

Stephanie Quayle To Embark on 2017 Winnebago Tour

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Stephanie Quayle on Country Music News Blog!

Country newcomer Stephanie Quayle sounds like anything BUT a newcomer as she brings roadtrip adventures to life in a smooth southern way on her new single “Winnebago”, which also serves as the title to her debut headlining tour. Calling from obvious influences like LeeAnn Womack and Tammy Wynette, Quayle’s simple storytelling style is as clean and honest as country gets, and is just another signal that Nashville is backing away from that flash and fire pop sound they’ve been drowning in lately. Take a look at this live performance from Stephanie Quayle and find out more about her in the press release below! STEPHANIE QUAYLE ANNOUNCES 2017 HEADLINING “WINNEBAGO” TOUR: POWERED BY THE RV LOFT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WINNEBAGO, KAMPGROUNDS OF AMERICA AND POLAROID  TOUR KICKS OFF AT CMA MUSIC FEST  IN NASHVILLE THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 10   QUAYLE TO PERFORM OPENING DAY OF WINNEBAGO’S 2017 GRAND NATIONAL RALLY  Nashville, TN—June 5, 2017- In celebration of her infectious new single, “Winnebago,” Rebel Engine recording artist Stephanie Quayle is kicking off the summer in style with the announcement of her 2017 headlining “Winnebago” Tour: Powered By The RV Loft, in partnership with Kampgrounds Of America (KOA), Winnebago and Polaroid. The “Winnebago” tour will launch this Saturday, June 10 at CMA Music Fest in Nashville on the Hard Rock Stage at 5:30pm CT. From there, Quayle will crisscross the U.S. performing at KOA locations nationwide– “from the Empire State to the Golden Gate” —all in the comfort of a Winnebago with her Winnie Drop in tow, provided by co-sponsors The RV Loft and Winnebago. On July 17, Quayle will perform for opening day of Winnebago’s 2017 Grand National Rally in Forest City, IA. We’ll camp out on the open road From Buffalo all the way to Tupelo Ain’t never seen the Hoover Dam before We’ll take a Polaroid picture under Mt Rushmore I wanna kiss you on the Golden Gate Hold your hand at the top of the Empire State Come on baby we don’t have to wait So whatcha say, hey whatcha say Hop on in to my Winnebago We’re gonna go wherever the wind blows Recently lauded as an “Artist You Need To Know,” by Rolling Stone Country, Quayle will be living out the lyrics to her new single making stops at each of the national cities and landmarks namechecked in the song including Buffalo, Tupelo, the Hoover Dam, Mt. Rushmore, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building, and more. “With ‘Winnebago,’ I love that it’s roll your windows down and sing along,” Quayle tells Rolling Stone Country. “If that song doesn’t make you smile, then I don’t know what will.” Quayle has teamed up with Polaroid who will be sharing photos of her adventures on the tour through Polaroid-owned social media channels. Fans can follow Quayle along on her journey via the Polaroid Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages (@Polaroid). KOA will also be featuring Facebook LIVE videos to chronicle Quayle’s appearances at each of their campsites. Exclusive content will be posted across Quayle’s own social media platforms Continue reading Stephanie Quayle To Embark on 2017 Winnebago Tour→

Clark Hill to Release New Single “Perfect To Me”

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Clark Hill on Country Music News Blog!

One of the best things about CMAFest season is the flood of new artists that fills our submission box, and CMA’s emerging artist Clark Hill is certainly no exception. Reminiscent of an early Tracy Lawrence, Clark’s smooth emotional voice melts event the hardest of listeners as he pours his heart out on this current single, “Perfect To Me”. Hear the song here: Perfect To Me on Soundcloud and find out more about Clark Hill in the press release below. Break The Cycle Entertainment’s Clark Hill will release his new single, “Perfect To Me,” co-written by the GRAMMY-nominated artist Chris Young and esteemed songwriter/musician Mike Rogers, on June 9th via iTunes, Spotify, and all other digital retailers. “I can’t think of a greater honor than to cut a song written by an artist as amazing as Chris Young and our friend, songwriter, and producer Mike Rogers,” said Hill. “ They have given me the gift of placing my stamp on country music with one of the best songs I’ve had the privilege to record.” The track will be the first single from Hill’s forthcoming debut album, People Like Me, expected for release later this year.  The project was fully recorded at CTM Studios (Catch This Music) in Nashville and produced by Rogers, co-writer of “Perfect To Me” and drummer for Craig Morgan. “This is one of the best songs I’ve ever been a part of,” said Rogers. “Writing it with Chris Young while on a USO tour was so fun! With Clark Hill’s vocal, it’s sure to be a hit.” The track came into fruition while Young and Morgan were providing entertainment overseas for the United Service Organization when a wounded warrior by the name of Joe Bowser approached. (Bowser decided to have his right leg amputated in 2004 after a 122 mm rocket that landed on base lodged a piece of shrapnel in his lower calf/heel.) While in Iraq, Young and Rogers were talking about potential material for a song; Young had the chord progression, but no lyrics. That’s when Bowser suggested a topic inspired by his wife, Michele. “As the words came together, the song became more personal to me,” said Bowser. “I have heard her talk about how she can’t stand to look in the mirror, but I would tell her, ‘You’re perfect to me.’’  A music video is currently under production and will be released this summer. Originally from Starke, Florida, he came of age while working on his family’s farm planting and harvesting vegetables. Beginning in second grade, Hill took the initiative to perform in local talent shows as an Elvis Presley impersonator—hair dyed black, jumpsuit, the whole package. He went on to join the children’s choir and lead the praise band in church before performing regularly for the holidays at Walt Disney World in high school choir. A truly compelling performer, between 2013-2016, Hill has played over 300 concerts in about 100 different venues across the globe and traveled internationally throughout the fall/winter of 2016 Continue reading Clark Hill to Release New Single “Perfect To Me”→