Country music

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 -- The Country Music Association and ABC Television Network announced today that "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards" will air live, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on ABC from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The industry's elite and biggest stars will gather on "Country Music's Biggest Night Night™" to recognize and celebrate the best and brightest performers, songwriters, record producers and music video directors.    » read more »

Kick Off Your UGG Boots and Put Down Your iPods

NEW YORK, June 19 -- Just when you thought there were no more decades left to love, VH1 is back at it with an all-new 8-part series "I Love The New Millennium." From "Thong Songs" and Big Fat Greek Weddings, to wardrobe malfunctions and the "Big Mouth Billy Bass," it's all here, and our expert team of celebrities, musicians, actors, athletes, journalists and comedians are back to tackle every hard hitting issue you can imagine. For example: Where were all those weapons of mass destruction anyway? How did people watch television before TIVO? Who decided that trucker hats weren't just for truckers anymore? And perhaps most importantly of all ... who let the dogs out?    » read more »

Country’s Next Great Duo Moves from Television to the Recordning Studio after Receiving a Recording Contract with Sony BMG Nashville

NASHVILLE, June 3, 2008 – Thousands of hopefuls auditioned, but only two performing duos make the final cut to become country’s next great duo on the finale of the CMT music competition series CAN YOU DUET, from “American Idol” producers FremantleMedia North America. After weeks of rigorous auditions, performer boot camp and weekly performances in front of a live audience, the winning duo is announced on Friday, June 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, on CMT immediately following a new episode premiering at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.    » read more »

NASHVILLE, June 3, 2008 – Fans make CMT #1, so CMT is returning the favor with a fan-centric promotional blitz to support the 2008 CMA Music Festival which kicks off Thursday, June 5 in Nashville. CMT created custom materials and interactive fan experiences to connect with country music’s biggest fans during the four-day festival. The festival will be featured extensively on CMT and its multiple digital extensions, including CMT.com and CMT Mobile.

Below are highlights of CMT’s presence at the 2008 CMA Music Festival:

FAN FAIR HALL:

- Each CMA Music Festival attendee will receive a CMT gift at registration, an official co-branded CMT and CMA bag containing festival information    » read more »

Hosted by Former "Bachelor" Bob Guiney, with Appearances by Julianne Hough from "Dancing with the Stars" and ABC Daytime Stars Bradford Anderson, Kassie DePaiva, Bobbie Eakes, Ricky Paull Goldin, Rebecca Herbst and Jason Thompson

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 -- ABC is hosting its annual Block Party at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville on SATURDAY, JUNE 7 (1:00-5:30 p.m.), to be hosted by former "Bachelor" participant Bob Guiney, with appearances by Julianne Hough from "Dancing with the Stars" and ABC Daytime talent Bradford Anderson ("General Hospital"), Kassie DePaiva ("One Life to Live"), Bobbie Eakes ("All My Children"), Ricky Paull Goldin ("All My Children"), Rebecca Herbst ("General Hospital") and Jason Thompson ("General Hospital").    » read more »

NASHVILLE, June 3, 2008 – CMT will feature NASHVILLE STAR judges John Rich, Jewel and Jeffrey Steele in a themed weekend to promote new episodes of the weekly music competition series on Saturday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7. All weekend long, Rich, Jewel and Steele will have fun introducing such CMT programs as the popular series CAN YOU DUET, CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN, MOBILE HOME DISASTER and TRICK MY TRUCK, and talk about the upcoming season of NASHVILLE STAR which premieres on NBC and re-airs on CMT the following week.    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- Due to overwhelming demand, the Grand Ole Opry® presented by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® has added a second Tuesday Night Opry on June 3 at 9:30 p.m. to kick off its CMA Music Festival week of shows.

Scheduled to appear are Carrie Underwood, Montgomery Gentry, Luke Bryan and more. The night’s 7:00 p.m. show is a sell-out. A portion of that show will air as a special live Tuesday edition of Opry Live on GAC.

Adding to the Tuesday evening festivities, the Opry has extended its summer series of Opry Plaza Parties to include a special June 3 5:30 p.m. Party presented by Humana® featuring a free performance by Capitol Records recording artist Luke Bryan.

June 4 – 18th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge
Greer Stadium – Noon    » read more »

Season Six of NASHVILLE STAR Debuts Saturday, June 14 on CMT

NASHVILLE, May 27, 2008 – CMT has entered into an agreement with NBC to re-broadcast episodes of the sixth season of NASHVILLE STAR, it was announced today by Mary Beth Cunin, vice president, programming strategy, CMT. The music competition series will premiere for the first time on NBC on Monday, June 9 at 9:30-11:00 p.m., ET/PT, and then be retelecast on CMT, beginning Saturday, June 14 at 4:00-5:30 p.m., ET/PT. NASHVILLE STAR begins its regularly scheduled timeslot on CMT Friday, June 20 at 8:00-9:30 p.m., ET/PT.    » read more »

Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood and Dwight Yoakam Announced to Appear at the Festival

Monday, May 19, 2008 -- Summer heats up when ABC heads to Nashville to take you to the hottest music event, "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Filming June 5-8, today's most exciting Country Music sensations will hit the stage in a four-day party and music celebration for the special that will air MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.    » read more »

19 May 2008 -- Kenny Chesney won Entertainer of the Year for the fourth straight time at Sunday's U.S. Academy of Country Music Awards (CMAs).

With the win, Kenny Chesney ties Garth Brooks and is only one win behind the legendary country group "Alabama" which won five of the top awards in row.

Brad Paisley took the award for Top Male Vocalist, his second in a row. Carrie Underwood won the Top Female Vocalist prize, also her second straight.

Kenny Chesney won the top prize through online voting, the first time the award was not determined by academy members.

Kenny Chesney said he disagreed with the change to online voting because this method of choosing a winner "disrespected" the artists. He said he thought fans should be included but not by pushing buttons on the Internet.    » read more »

May 16, 2008 -- Opry Plaza Parties, one of Nashville’s favorite summertime activities, are set to launch their ninth season on Memorial Day Weekend, Sat., May 24. Plaza Parties are free and will run every Saturday night through July 25 beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the Opry Plaza concert stage located in the area in front of the Opry House, the Acuff Theatre, and the Opry Museum.

Grammy®-nominated Western swing band The Time Jumpers lead the summer series with a May 24 performance. The wide range of country, alt-country, and bluegrass artists scheduled to perform throughout the summer also includes Elizabeth Cook, The John Cowan Band, John England and the Western Swingers, Jypsi, Kieran Kane with Fats Kaplin and Lucas Kane, Tift Merritt, Kim Richey, Sunny Sweeney, and 3 Fox Drive.    » read more »

Opry.com celebrates Carrie's induction with a new performance each day this week on YouTube!

May 10, 2008 -- Reigning Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry tonight, inducted by fellow Oklahoman, Opry member Garth Brooks, before a sold-out Opry House audience.

   » read more »

Final Eight Duos Are Revealed And Move On To Compete For A Recording Contract With Sony BMG Nashville

NASHVILLE, May 10, 2008 – Thousands of country star hopefuls auditioned, but only two performers will make the final cut to become country’s next great duo on the new CMT music competition series CAN YOU DUET, from “American Idol” producers FremantleMedia North America. After five weeks of rigorous auditions and performer boot camp, the pool of talent has been narrowed to the final eight duos that will perform weekly at the famed Nashville Wildhorse Saloon to stay in the competition. CAN YOU DUET had the network’s highest rated original series debut and new one-hour episodes air every Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on CMT.    » read more »

Production is Currently Underway in Nashville and John Rich Returns as Host with a Cast that Includes Sebastian Bach, Irene Cara, Mikalah Gordon, Jermaine Jackson, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lorenzo Lamas and Sean Young Who Are All Vying for a Chance at Releasing Their Country Single

NASHVILLE, April 8, 2008 – CMT today unveiled the contents of this year’s customized talent gift bags for celebrities participating in the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, country music’s only fan-voted awards show, airing live on Monday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT* from The Curb Event Center at Belmont University in Nashville. This year’s gift bag includes a wide variety of fashion, beauty and music must-haves as well as unique travel opportunities.    » read more »