Variety.com reports that Naomi Judd’s daughter Ashley Judd revealed her mother’s cause of death this morning during an appearance on Good Morning America. “She used a weapon….my mother used a firearm.”
Eight-time Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney, the only Country artist on Pollstar’s Top Touring Artists of the Decade, returns to the road with a lineup featuring three-time consecutive GRAMMY winners Dan + Shay, reigning ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion, and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carly Pearce.
Legendary country group Shenandoah is hitting the tour trail to commemorate 35 years since its inception. Today, the first 35 dates were announced for the GRAMMY® Award-winning group’s national “35th Anniversary Tour,” with more to be announced soon.
Travis Tritt – Press Image
Photo Credit: Jeremy Cowart
Photo Credit: Jeremy Cowart
Multi-platinum selling and award-winning artist Travis Tritt has announced he will not perform at venues that require proof of COVID vaccination, mask mandates, or testing. As a result, the following Travis Tritt shows have been canceled: Muncie, Indiana on Oct. 23, Philadelphia, Mississippi on November 6, Peoria, Illinois on Nov 11 and Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 13.
Country Music Hall of Fame legend Tom T. Hall died on Friday, August 20th. He was 85. Hall was nicknamed “The Storyteller” by Tex Ritter, another country great, for his songwriting style. His hits included “Harper Valley P.T.A.” which became a major crossover smash for Jeanie C. Riley in 1968, “That’s How I Got To Memphis,”, Homecoming,” and “(Old Dogs, Children, and) Watermelon Wine,” “A Week in a Country Jail,” “I Love,” “Country Is”, “I Care,” and many more. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and Loretta Lynn. Hall was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and was a Grand Ole Opry member since 1971. Rolling Stone included the Olive Hill, Kentucky native on their ‘100 Greatest Songwriters’ list.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has officially declared August 18, 2021 as ‘Charlie Daniels Day‘ across the Volunteer State. The proclamation comes as friends, family and fans gear up to celebrate the late musical icon at the 2021 Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels. The star-studded live concert event is set to take place on August 18 at 7 p.m. at Nashville‘s Bridgestone Arena.
GRAMMY, CMA, and Dove award-winning pop, country, and gospel singer B.J. Thomas revealed today that his doctors have diagnosed him as having stage four lung cancer. Thomas is receiving treatment in a local health care facility in Texas, and is hopeful for a complete recovery.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Ray Stevens has released the first of four new albums. Out now via Curb Records, Great Country Ballads features twelve timeless hit songs that left a mark on Stevens, not only as an artist but as a country music fan. On the project, Stevens reinvents the classic ballads in his own unique style, but also keeps the integrity of the original track intact.
Multi-award-winning bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent was formally inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry Saturday by Opry member Dierks Bentley. The invitation was delivered in February of 2020 by Opry member Jeannie Seely with an original induction date scheduled for March 24, 2020, prior to the pandemic.
Ed Bruce, singer/songwriter, died Friday, January 8, 2021, in Clarksville, Tennessee, of natural causes at age 81.