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Category Archives: CMT awards
CMT Music Awards Nominations Announced
Earlier today, the nominations for the 2013 CMT Music Awards were revealed. With Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert leading with four nominations each, as well as Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line and Rascal Flatts following with three a piece, the show is sure to be a good one! Fan voting is now available at www.cmt.com through Sunday, June 2nd at midnight EST.
The show, which will be hosted by Jason and actress Kristen Bell, will air LIVE from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, June 5th at 8PM EST.
Jason Aldean & Kristen Bell to host CMT Awards
It’s official! Country superstar Jason Aldean will co-host this year’s CMT Video Awards alongside actress Kristen Bell. Jason actually made the announcement himself on his Twitter account @Jason_Aldean yesterday afternoon.
Through his Twitter, Jas0n said:
“@IMKristenBell Lookin forward to hosting #CMTAwards with ya. now to finish my Veronica Mars marathon…”
He also jokingly posted this picture of himself in a Veronica Mars t-shirt … a television show that starred Kristen Bell.
Jason Aldean’s Veronica Mars t-shirt he posted to Twitter.
Are you excited for this pairing? Who are you favorite country music award show hosts?
Get Blown Away By Carrie’s 2012!
When we caught wind of just how incredible Carrie Underwood‘s 2012 was, we were simply blown away. Not only were we amazed by the laundry list of successful moments Carrie experienced, but we were exhausted just thinking about everything Carrie accomplished in only 366 days (Leap Year, y’all … are we observant, or what?)! The following is what Carrie’s year consisted of:
AUDIO: Miranda Lambert Backstage At CMA Fest
Country music’s firecracker Miranda Lambert made a quick stop backstage at the 2012 CMA Music Festival to answer a few questions before hitting the stage later that night. Miranda, who was feeling pretty sick all day, still found time to meet with the press backstage. Listen to the clips of her interview below:
Miranda, as you might notice from her voice in our clips, was forced to have the Pistol Annies and Raelynn fill in last minute for her at her fanclub party during CMA Fest, apologizes to the media and her fans for being sick. She has a pretty good idea why she was feeling under the weather, and where she got it from:
Check out more of the Miranda interview below:
Payton Rae Turns Heads at CMA Music Festival
Payton Rae may only be 16-years-old, but the Internet phenom showed her star power in Nashville during CMA Music Fest last week. She wowed fans at the Hard Rock Cafe Stage, with both her voice and her fashion choice. Rae rocked a pair of pink Betsey Johnson dresses to show off her self-proclaimed “passion for fashion!”
In addition to wow-ing crowds, Payton was wowed by some of the performances she got to see. “All of the performances I saw this week were over the top amazing,” said Payton. “If I had to pick my favorites, I would have to say Carrie Underwood’s ‘Good Girl’ performance at the 2012 CMT Music Awards and Hunter Hayes’ show at LP Field.”
While Payton was setting the stage ablaze in Nashville, her new single, “Stomp The Fire Out,” hit country radio and all of the major video channels, including The Country Network (TCN), GACtv.com and AOL. The CMA highlighted Payton Rae on their blog, noting that the 16-yr old “Generation YouTube” Internet star “draws the next generation of @CountryMusic enthusiasts.” Payton is already a huge star on social media, with over 140,000 Twitter followers, 68,000 Facebook fans and over 6.6 million YouTube channel views in less than two years.
While her single climbs the country charts, Payton Rae is preparing to hit the road on the 2012 Camplified Tour, beginning in July. The tour, which is in its 11th year, showcases emerging teen stars by bringing them to over 50 camps and putting them before over 50,000 campers between the ages of 6 and 17.
For more info on Payton, please visit: www.paytonraemusic.com.
Scotty McCreery Wins CMT Music Award and Graduates High School
It’s been a crazy few days for platinum-selling artist and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery, who took home his first CMT Music Award on Wednesday and then graduated high school 12 hours later in Garner, N.C. After all that excitement, he headed back to Nashville yesterday to sign autographs, hold a Fan Club Party and take the stage at LP Field on Sunday.
At the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday, Scotty grabbed the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year for “The Trouble With Girls” at the 2012 CMT Music Awards. “I was pumped!” says Scotty, who also performed “Water Tower Town” during the CMT Music Awards. “It’s a fun awards show. You come here just looking for a great time, so that award just added to a great night.”
The award he won was for “The Trouble With Girls” video, which was actually shot at Garner High School, the school from which McCreery graduated on Thursday morning. “I love the video because it’s real for me,” he says. “Those are my real friends and my real high school. It was really special to shoot.” He graduated with distinguished honors, and his Senior year included a platinum debut album and pitching for his high school baseball team. “It’s been a good four years in high school,” he says. “I’ve gone a lot of places that I never thought I’d go and done a lot of things I never dreamed I’d do. This is bittersweet, but I’m really excited to spend the day with my friends and move on to the next stage in life.”
Scotty McCreery’s current single, which he performed at the CMT Awards, “Water Tower Town,” is currently climbing the charts. Additionally, he is on tour with Brad Paisley‘s epic “Virtual Reality Tour 2012.”
Hank Williams, Jr. and Brad Paisley Rock the CMT Awards
Last night in Nashville, Hank Williams, Jr. and Brad Paisley took the stage together during the CMT Music Awards to sing a new song called “I’m Gonna Get Drunk And Play Hank Williams.” The song will be faeatured on Hank’s new album, “Old School, New Rules,” that will be available everywhere on July 10.
Hank and Brad played to a crowd of nearly 30,000 people on the streets of Nashville as they played on a stage outside of Bridgestone Arena, where the Awards took place.
Tonight was a special night! Having Brad perform with me and especially on my new album is something special…It’s a good ‘ole honky-tonk song that Brad-cephus and Bocephus had a lot of fun playing tonight! – Hank Williams, Jr.
I count as one of my greatest blessings in this career being able to get to know Hank…When I heard the song, I said, ‘This is perfect’. It’s such a great tribute to his dad. The idea that two of us from this generation are getting together to forget a woman with the music of his father is too much fun! It’s a highlight for me! – Brad Paisley
“I’m Gonna Get Drunk and Play Hank Williams” is available now as a digital download on iTunes. You can preorder Hank’s new album at www.hankjr.com.
Lady Antebellum Fans Brave Stormy Weather for Attendance Breaking Concert Stop
Lady Antebellum played to over 62,000 devoted fans this past weekend on their headlining OWN THE NIGHT 2012 World Tour. The CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year played in Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA and Rochester, NY. In Cleveland, the supergroup played to over 18,600 fans, despite inclement weather, marking the biggest selling night of the Own the Night Tour.
While the fans were thrilled by Hillary, Charles and Dave, the press was equally impressed. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote, “When the Grammy-winning trio of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood took the stage, they left no stone unturned…a full sing-along reached the back of the packed lawn. The band, whose talent runs deep, has a great chemistry and plays well to an audience. A classic stage with a U-shaped ramp and a riser stretching into standing-room-only allowed lots of audience interaction.”
Additionally, the Cleveland Plain Dealer praised the trio. “Lady A didn’t just hit play on the CD and recreate a note-for-note version of ANY song. Tempo changes, dynamic changes, harmonic changes – all were incorporated, so that old songs sounded new.”
Lady A will be opening the CMT Music Awards tomorrow with a special performance with Hot Chelle Rae. They’re nominated for Music Video of the Year, Group Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year.
CMT Music Awards Presenters Announced
With only two days remaining until the 2012 CMT Music Awards, Nashville is brimming with excitement in anticipation of the big night.
Today, a list of presenters were announced for Wednesday’s show. The list includes: Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, Ronnie Dunn, Alan Jackson, Jake Owen, and Kellie Pickler. Previously-announced performers The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan will also be on hand to present awards.
Several other presenters comprise the list, such as American Idol finalists Colton Dixon and Skylar Laine, CMT hosts Tom Arnold and Steve Austin, 2012 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti, Twilight star Ashley Greene, Tony Hawk, Denise Richards, Dax Shepard and Jordin Sparks.
The show will feature performances from some of the best in country music: Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Hank Williams Jr. and Zac Brown Band.
The show, hosted by Toby Keith and actress Kristen Bell, will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena June 6th at 8PM EST on CMT and CMT.com.
We will be at the show, so be sure to check back with us as Keepin’ It Country will be up-to-date on everything related to the Awards and CMA Fest!
Hunter Hayes Hits Nashville
Hunter Hayes will hit Nashville next week during CMA Music Festival for several appearances and live performances. Hunter will kick off the week on Wednesday, June 6th at the 2012 CMT Music Awards. On Thursday, June 7th at 11 am, Hunter will sign for fans at The Warner Sound booth inside the Nashville Convention Center. Following the signing, Hunter and his band will perform at 6PM at Downtown Nashville’s aVenue. Hunter has billed his nearly two-hour set list “Music City’s Most Wanted.”
On Saturday June 9th, Hunter will share the stage with country music stars Eric Church, Luke Bryan, and Faith Hill. To wrap up his week in Nashville, Sunday, June 10, Hunter will make a stop at the Martin Guitar tent on Broadway at 1:30PM. He will then head to a sold out “Coffee Break Experience” with fans later that afternoon.
If you are unable to make it to CMA Fest, have no fear. You, too, can get your fill of Hunter soon. Hunter will be featured in the upcoming new episode of CMT Crossroads: Joe Walsh and Friends, starring Joe Walsh from The Eagles, accompanied by Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Luke Bryan and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. The artists will perform Walsh’s hits and Eagle’s classics. The show premieres on Saturday, June 23rd at 11 PM ET.
For more information and a complete rundown of Hunter Hayes’ CMA Festival activities, please visit www.HunterHayes.com. Let us know if you are heading to CMA Fest and what Hunter events you plan to attend!
