Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen and Other Black Country Artists Set for Amazon Music Doc, ‘For Love & Country’

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSummer Walker, Chloe Bailey, Muni Love, Cordae and Jimmie Allen delivered rousing performances and groundbreaking female rapper MC Lyte and singer-songwriter John Legend were honored at the Recording Academy’s first-ever Black Music Collective ceremony on Saturday night.“It’s been a long time coming, and I don’t feel great saying that,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told the glittering audience at Resorts World Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS -- As John Legend was honored for his musical achievements Saturday — the night before the Grammy Awards — the singer used the Recording Academy stage to pay homage to a Black music culture that has shaped him and the wider world of music.Legend explained how Black music has set trends for listeners across the globe, speaking at the academy’s Black Music Collective event in Las Vegas, where he was given the Global Impact Award for his personal and professional achievements in the music industry.“I’m proud to celebrate and honor and cultivate our music,” Legend said at the event held the night before the Grammy Awards.“Black music is and has been the rhythm, the root, the inspiration, the innovation behind so much of the world’s popular music. It doesn’t exist without us," he said.The multi-Grammy winner applauded the efforts of the Black Music Collective, a group created in 2020 of prominent music industry leaders — including honorary chairs from Legend and producers Jimmy Jam and Quincy Jones — who are looking to find ways to drive Black representation and inclusion.

New Music Friday! It's every audiophile's favorite day of the week, and some of our favorite artists from all different genres have blessed us with new tunes.Harry Styles kicked off his new era with «As It Was,» the first single from his upcoming third studio album, Shawn Mendes returned with another musical reflection on lost love, «When You're Gone.» And Thomas Rhett recruited Katy Perry for his nostalgic new track, «Where We Started.»In honor of this week's GRAMMY Awards, Spotify Singles featured each of the Best New Artist nominees on a two-pack of tracks — reimagining one of their own songs and covering a beloved classic. For country star Jimmie Allen, that meant a twangy, acoustic take on Toni Braxton's iconic ballad, «Un-Break My Heart.»«It’s super cool when you’re recognized for doing something you love,» Allen said of his nomination. «As for 'Un-Break My Heart,' I love the song; it’s one of my favorite songs ever.

Chris Willman Music WriterWhen the Nashville chapter of the Recording Academy held its annual pre-Grammys celebration for Tennessee-based nominees in early March, one of those contenders, Yola, filed a report from the party on Instagram. “The vibes were strong,” she wrote, “and so was the melanin!”Looking at the nominations in the country, folk and American roots categories, it was clear what the people of color in the chapter had to celebrate — and the Black women most of all.

Dirt biking sessions, sneaky s’more binges and snuggling around the bonfire – it was a family affair on the set of Nick Carter and Jimmie Allen’s Las Vegas music video shoot for their new single, “Easy”. The singers’ adorable children made their music video debuts in the clip, filmed in the Nevada desert. 

Chris Willman Music WriterLeVar Burton will host the Grammys’ “premiere ceremony,” the pre-telecast afternoon event during which the vast majority of winners will be announced April 3.The Grammys-before-the-Grammys will get underway at the the MGM Grand Conference Marquee Ballroom in Las Vegas at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 ET.

Party in Music City! Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and more of country’s biggest stars will be honored at the 2022 CMT Music Awards.

2022 CMT Awards have been announced. The line-up is stacked with a roster of some of this year’s nominees.The CMT Awards is known for bringing some of the best world premiere performances and biggest collaborations and this year is no exception.  The first round of performers announced include Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Carley Pearce and Keith Urban.

Maren Morris has been supported by Jenna Dewan, Amanda Kloots and Mickey Guyton as she defended her Playboy shoot and encouraged women in the country music scene to "own their sexuality".Exclusive: Miranda Lambert's stylist shares the singer's wardrobe secretsMaren posted a picture from her 2019 Playboy shoot and shared how proud she was that "showed country female sexuality in its realist form here". "We are nuanced, we are messy and stretch-marked in the most beautiful way.

Kelsea Ballerini looked like a bit of springtime, as she stepped out in an adorable white mini dress for a concert in Miami Beach on Wednesday (March 16). The country music star, 28, was the center of attention at an Aerie benefit promoting positivity across social media, where she debuted a new song called “Keepin’ It Real,” written exclusively for the clothing company’s star-studded event, per their website.

The fans are in charge! The first round of nominations for the 2022 CMT Music Awards have been announced — and the list is full of chart-topping artists.

co-hosted the show with Brown last year and will do the same this year with actor Anthony Mackie, is nominated for three awards including video of the year.Mickey Guyton, Breland and Cody Johnson are each triple nominees.Carrie Underwood, who has won a record 23 CMT awards, is nominated for video of the year and collaborative video of the year for her duet with Jason Aldean, “If I Didn’t Love You.”Other nominees for video of the year include Guyton, Johnson, Taylor Swift with Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, and Cole Swindell and Laney Wilson.Online fan voting for the CMT awards, which will also livestream on Paramount+, begins Thursday and runs through April 11.As usual, the show’s nominees are heavy with genre-blending collaborations.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kane Brown is the leading nominee for the 2022 CMT Music Awards, which celebrates the best in country music videos.Brown's four nominations for the fan-voted awards show, airing live from Nashville on CBS April 11, include the top honor of video of the year along with male video of the year, both for his hit “One Mississippi,” CMT announced Wednesday.Kelsea Ballerini, who co-hosted the show with Brown last year and will do the same this year with actor Anthony Mackie, is nominated for three awards including video of the year.Mickey Guyton, Breland and Cody Johnson are each triple nominees.Carrie Underwood, who has won a record 23 CMT awards, is nominated for video of the year and collaborative video of the year for her duet with Jason Aldean, “If I Didn't Love You.”Other nominees for video of the year include Guyton, Johnson, Taylor Swift with Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, and Cole Swindell and Laney Wilson.Online fan voting for the CMT awards, which will also livestream on Paramount+, begins Thursday and runs through April 11.As usual, the show’s nominees are heavy with genre-blending collaborations.

“One Mississippi” singer Kane Brown scored a leading four nominations to lead the fan-voted field for the 2022 CMT Music Awards, which will be handed out next month. Kelsea Ballerini, Mickey Guyton and first-time nominees Breland and Cody Johnson are next with three noms apiece.

Chris Willman Music WriterCountry star Kane Brown leads the list of nominations for the 2022 CMT Music Awards with four, followed by three apiece for Kelsea Ballerini, Mickey Guyton and Breland and Cody Johnson.Joining the latter two artists as first-time nominees are Brittney Spencer, Caitlyn Smith, Elvie Shane, MacKenzie Porter, Priscilla Block and Tenille Arts, and two non-country artist who appeared on CMT during the year, H.E.R. and Paul Klein of LANY.Carly Pearce, who is up for two awards, helped announce the nominations Wednesday morning on CBS, which will air the CMT Awards for the first time this year, in a bumping up of what used to be CMT’s flagship show to a new awards tentpole for the broadcast network.

2022 CMT Music Awards are almost here — and it's going to be a star-studded night!On Wednesday, CMT announced the nominees for country music's only entirely fan-voted awards show — which will be hosted live from Music City by Anthony Mackie and Kelsea Ballerini on Monday, April 11 -- and the list includes some of the biggest names in music. Kane Brown leads the pack this year with four nominations, while Ballerini, Mickey Guyton, and first-time nominees Breland and Cody Johnson earned three nods apieceThe first round of nominations for the coveted Video of the Year award includes 12 acts, spotlighting artists like Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift feat.

It’s a woman’s world! Carrie Underwood, Mickey Guyton and more women in country music have inspired listeners with their empowering lyrics.

Country chic! There was no shortage of glitz or glamour at the 2022 ACM Awards. With designer dresses, jewels and top-notch glam, singers and stars slayed the red carpet on Monday, March 7. 

Hosted by Dolly Parton alongside by co-hosts Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett, the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards was a the two-hour concert event of the year live streamed globally on Prime Video tonight from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.