The party for the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is underway as Eric Church, Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert lead the nominations, each picking up four for this year’s live show. Nominees were announced this morning on People.com. Voting for the CMT MUSIC AWARDS begins now at CMT.com and continues until Sunday, June 2, at midnight ET.
Artists coming in with three nominations include: Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and first-time nominees Florida Georgia Line; artists with two nominations include: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Hunter Hayes, Jana Kramer, rock legends Journey, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw.
The 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS marks the 12th anniversary of the awards show and will air LIVE from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com. Kristen Bell returns as host for the second consecutive year and is joined by first-time host, Jason Aldean.
The final nominees in each of the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS categories include:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced during live telecast, with final voting held online at CMT.com during the show.
Brad Paisley – “Southern Comfort Zone”
Carrie Underwood – “Blown Away”
Eric Church – “Springsteen”
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
Jason Aldean – “1994”
Kenny Chesney – “Come Over”
Little Big Town – “Tornado”
Luke Bryan – “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”
Miranda Lambert – “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Tim McGraw – “One of Those Nights”
MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist
Blake Shelton – “Sure Be Cool If You Did”
Eric Church – “Creepin’”
Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
Jason Aldean – “Take a Little Ride”
Kenny Chesney – “Come Over”
Luke Bryan – “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”
FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist
Carrie Underwood – “Two Black Cadillacs”
Faith Hill – “American Heart”
Jana Kramer – “Why Ya Wanna”
Kacey Musgraves – “Merry Go ‘Round”
Miranda Lambert – “Mama’s Broken Heart”
Taylor Swift – “Begin Again”
GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists
Lady Antebellum – “Downtown”
Little Big Town – “Pontoon”
Pistol Annies – “Takin’ Pills”
Rascal Flatts – “Come Wake Me Up”
The Band Perry – “Better Dig Two”
Zac Brown Band – “Goodbye in Her Eyes”
DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists
Big & Rich – “That’s Why I Pray”
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
Love and Theft – “Runnin’ Out Of Air”
Thompson Square – “If I Didn’t Have You”
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist's major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female or group/duo)
Dustin Lynch – “Cowboys and Angels”
Florida Georgia Line – “Cruise”
Jana Kramer – “Why Ya Wanna”
Kacey Musgraves – “Merry Go ‘Round”
Kip Moore – “Beer Money”
Randy Houser – “How Country Feels”
COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)
Brad Paisley and Joe Walsh – “Rocky Mountain Way,” from CMT CROSSROADS: JOE WALSH & FRIENDS
Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan and Eric Church – “The Only Way I Know,” from 2012 CMA Awards
Kelly Clarkson featuring Vince Gill – “Don’t Rush,” from 2012 CMA Awards
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw – “Feel Like A Rockstar”
Rascal Flatts and Journey – “Changed,” from CMT CROSSROADS: JOURNEY AND RASCAL FLATTS
The Avett Brothers and Randy Travis – “Three Wooden Crosses” from CMT CROSSROADS: THE AVETT BROTHERS AND RANDY TRAVIS
CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)
Dierks Bentley – “5-1-5-0” from CMT UNPLUGGED
Eric Church – “Homeboy” from 2012 CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR
Luke Bryan and Ryan Tedder – “Drunk On You/Feel Again” from 2012 CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert – “Over You” from 2012 CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR
Rascal Flatts and Journey – “Don’t Stop Believin’” from CMT CROSSROADS: JOURNEY AND RASCAL FLATTS
Toby Keith – “Beers Ago” from 2012 CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR
Fans can vote online at CMT.com, and on their mobile device at CMT Mobile or the CMT Insider app available on iPhone, iPad and Android now through June 2 to determine the winners. The six finalists for VIDEO OF THE YEAR will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com, CMT mobile, on the CMT Insider app and via text message throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.
Veteran live event producer Michael Dempsey returns to executive produce the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS alongside director Joe DeMaio. John Hamlin and Margaret Comeaux serve as executive producers for CMT.
For more information as it becomes available, follow CMT on Twitter (@CMT), hashtag #CMTawards and become a fan of the CMT MUSIC AWARDS on Facebook
Temperatures – and heart rates – rose in the southern California desert during Florida Georgia Line and Nelly’s recent video shoot for the “Cruise” Remix. Directed by Marc Klasfeld, the music video features an impressive fleet of fast cars, crowds of gorgeous women and a surge of slick moves. Combined with the original version, the sizzling tune has already sold over 3 million copies and is Top 20-and-rising at Pop Radio.
The video will premiere on Monday (5/13) across VEVO, the world’s leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform.
According to reports, Billy Currington turned himself into Chatham County Sheriff's Office once there was a warrant for his arrest issued on charges that he made terroristic thereats & abuse of an elder person by inflicting mental anguish.
The story becomes weirder as details unfolded of a fight the singer had with Charles Harvey Ferrelle on April 15th when both men had a verbal argument near Billy's home in Tybee Island, GA.
Charles apparently was driving his boat inland near Billy's dock, Billy then chased Charles in his own boat to which both docked on land where Billy proceeded to threaten him with physical violence. The bond for Billy Currington is set at $27,700 with two charges he faced that are felonies & carry a one to five year prison sentence. You can see Billy’s booking information here.
Update:
Billy's troubles keep going with NASCAR choosing to pull the singer from the lineup at the Spring All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. The officials announced Josh Turner to replace the Georgia native as the entertainment to the event.
Said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, "Due to Currington's recent indictment, we elected to change our act for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race." (quote from CountryWeekly.com)
Country superstar Brad Paisley has joined George Strait's 60 For 60 campaign with a new interview video about George's influence on his career. Paisley joins stars like Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Eric Church and more in support of George's pending 60th #1 single of his career before his 61st birthday.
George's current single, "Give It All We Got Tonight," is climbing the top 10 country radio charts, and will appear on his upcoming 40th studio album, Love Is Everything, due May 14th on MCA Nashville.
For more on George Strait and the 60 For 60 movement, visit sixtyforsixty.com and georgestrait.com.
More than 1,050 graduates from 60 countries - the college's largest-ever graduating class - received degrees on May 11 at Berklee's 2013 commencement. Berklee president Roger H. Brown presented honorary doctor of music degrees to music legends Willie Nelson, Carole King, and Annie Lennox - all multiple Grammy Award-winners, among their many accolades. Lennox delivered the commencement address to the graduating class and an estimated audience of more than 4,000 guests at the Agganis Arena.
In her address, Lennox said, "Consider this, wherever you think you're heading right now might turn out to take a completely different path. What looks like an ending might actually be the start of a brand new beginning. Wherever and however we find ourselves, what a privilege it is to enrich our lives through music: the incredible universal language of the soul. Enter it wholeheartedly, make it yours to share with the world in the very best way you can." Lennox also sang lines from several songs that inspired her as a teen, including "Say a Little Prayer," "Wichita Lineman," and King's "It's Too Late."
President Brown enlisted Kris Kristofferson, Nelson's guest for the festivities, to help present Nelson's honorary doctorate. The longtime friends had performed a duet of Hank Williams' "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" at the previous night's commencement concert. Recalling the student performance during his acceptance, Nelson said, "Last night was especially tremendous. I enjoyed hearing everyone play and sing so many great songs. The history of music is good, but the future is even better, thanks to you folks."
The annual commencement concert at the Agganis Arena featured some of the college's most accomplished students paying tribute to the honorees with performances of music associated with their careers. The honorees all took the stage during the event. Nelson also performed "Night Life," while Lennox performed her hit song "Cold" with the student and faculty orchestra. King joined in during the "The Locomotion," to dance along. Other concert highlights included renditions of King's "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman," and "I Feel the Earth Move;" Nelson's "On the Road Again," and "Crazy;" and Lennox's "Walking on Broken Glass," and "Why."
During the ceremony, President Brown thanked Berklee's faculty and staff for their extraordinary commitment to the students, especially during the trying times in the aftermath of the marathon bombing. "The knowledge and skills our students have accumulated are astounding. They don't fully realize it, but this training prepares them for many possible paths, inside the music industry and outside," said Brown to parents in the audience. "If we have been successful, we have prepared them for a dynamic world in which new careers will be invented, the nature of which we cannot even yet imagine."
This year's honorary doctorate recipients were recognized for their achievements in contemporary music, for their enduring contributions to popular culture, and for the influence their careers and music have had on Berklee's international student body. King, Nelson, and Lennox join the ranks of such esteemed recipients as Duke Ellington (the first, in 1971), Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson, David Bowie, Bonnie Raitt, Count Basie, Sting, Loretta Lynn, B.B. King, Billy Joel, Chaka Khan, Steven Tyler, George Clinton, and Patti LaBelle.
Berklee's class of 2013 graduated with bachelor of music degrees or professional diplomas. Female graduates numbered 327, representing 31% of the total class. International students from 60 countries made up 36% of the class. The largest number of graduates from outside the U.S. were from South Korea and Canada. Students from as far away as Ghana, Mozambique, Japan, Russia, and the Philippines were among the graduating class. Domestic students were from 46 states. The top three majors were professional music, performance, and music business/management. Guitar, voice, and piano were the three most common instruments among the graduates.
The party for the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is underway as Eric Church, Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert lead the nominations, each picking up four for this year’s live show. Nominees were announced this morning on People.com. Voting for the CMT MUSIC AWARDS begins now at CMT.com and continues until Sunday, June 2, at midnight ET. 
Temperatures – and heart rates – rose in the southern California desert during Florida Georgia Line and Nelly’s recent video shoot for the “Cruise” Remix. Directed by Marc Klasfeld, the music video features an impressive fleet of fast cars, crowds of gorgeous women and a surge of slick moves. Combined with the original version, the sizzling tune has already sold over 3 million copies and is Top 20-and-rising at Pop Radio.
According to reports, Billy Currington turned himself into Chatham County Sheriff's Office once there was a warrant for his arrest issued on charges that he made terroristic thereats & abuse of an elder person by inflicting mental anguish.
Country superstar Brad Paisley has joined George Strait's 60 For 60 campaign with a new interview video about George's influence on his career. Paisley joins stars like Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Eric Church and more in support of George's pending 60th #1 single of his career before his 61st birthday.
More than 1,050 graduates from 60 countries - the college's largest-ever graduating class - received degrees on May 11 at Berklee's 2013 commencement. Berklee president Roger H. Brown presented honorary doctor of music degrees to music legends Willie Nelson, Carole King, and Annie Lennox - all multiple Grammy Award-winners, among their many accolades. Lennox delivered the commencement address to the graduating class and an estimated audience of more than 4,000 guests at the Agganis Arena.
