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Georgia Major Artist News

Check here often to find out the latest news on your favorite country stars from Georgia
(sources: AllAboutCountry.com, CMT.com, MusicRow.com and others as noted)

GEORGIA ACTS NOMINATED IN CMA AWARDS

Several national Georgia acts were nominated for the 58th CMA (Country Music Association) Awards, to be held in Nashville on Wed night, November 20th. Megan Moroney was nominated for New Artist of the Year. Lady A, Little Big Town and Zac Brown Band were all nominated for Vocal Group of the Year. Megan's video of "I'm Not Pretty" is up for Video of the Year. Megan is always up for Female Artist of the Year. Luke Bryan again will be co-hosting the show with Peyton Manning, to air on ABC.

ANGIE WARD OF 94.9 THE BULL IN ATLANTA WINS ACM AWARD

Angie Ward, on air personality of 94.9 The Bull in Atlanta, won On Air Personality of The Year for Large Markets, at The 2024 ACM Awards last night. She tied with Jason Pullman of KPLX in Dallas, Texas. Jason use to be with New Country 101.5 in Atlanta as well. Other Georgia related nominees were: WNGC in Athens for Small Market Radio Station of the Year, The Tabernacle in Atlanta, nominated for Theatre Of The Year, Georgia Theatre, nominated for Club of The Year,

GEORGIA'S MEGAN MORONEY WINS ACM NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Douglasville's Megan Moroney won the ACM Award for New Female Artist of the Year last night in advance winner announcements. Megan was born in Savannah then family moved to Douglasville, west of Atlanta early on. Then she attended the University of Georgia. Her biggest hit to day is "Tennessee Orange" peaking at #4 in 2023. The actual ACM Awards will air tomorrow night, May 16th at 8pm on Prime Video.

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS HONORS TRISHA YEARWOOD

The ninth annual Austin City Limits Hall of Fame honors Georgia country music superstar Trisha Yearwood. Don Henley handles induction honors and performs along with musical salutes from Jo Dee Messina, Ronnie Dunn, Brothers Osborne and Brandy Clark. "ACL 9th Annual Hall of Honors Trisha Yearwood" premiered on March 2, 2024 on PBS, but will reair this Wed night April 10th on Georgia PBS.

T GRAHAM BROWN INVITED TO JOIN THE GRAND OLE OPRY

Georgia singer, T. Graham Brown is one of the numerous country music legends who's performed on the Grand Ole Opry hundreds of times in his career, but for whatever reason has always evaded a formal invitation as a member, despite already feeling like part of that family. But years of paying dues and logging performances has finally paid off for him. During a taping of T. Graham's SiriusXM Show "Live Wire" on Tuesday (2-20) with Vince Gill, the Grand Ole Opry member surprised Brown with the invitation. "Awww, man. That's amazing, Vince. Oh my goodness. Please tell me you're not kidding me," T Graham Brown responded. "This is the greatest thing. You don't know what that means to me. I so wanted this; you just don't know. I'm so proud of the Opry. I'm just so proud to be there every time. I've never taken it for granted. It's just amazing." "They love you," Gill said. "That's a special place, and you'll be a valued part of that place. I didn't mean to make you cry. Congratulations!" Grand Ole Opry executive producer Dan Rogers says that T Graham Brown feels like family every time he walks through the doors of the Opry, and now he officially will be. "He adds a special spirit and a great performance to every Opry show he's part of. It's not lost on me that immediately after having been invited to join the Opry at the SiriusXM studios, within minutes he was on the road to the Opry for yet another performance, adding to his 300+ count of Opry appearances," Rogers said. The 69-year-old Brown celebrated the invitation by appearing in the 7:00 hour of Tuesday night's Opry along with Canadian Corb Lund who is preparing to release his new album El Viejo this Friday, as well as Crystal Gayle and Don Schlitz. Texas supergroup The Wilder Blue also made their official Grand Ole Opry debut Tuesday night in a segment that also featured Sierra Ferrell and Riders in the Sky, underscoring the Opry mix of legends and legends-in-the-making. T. Graham Brown is best known for his big hits in the '80s, including #1's "Hell and High Water," "Don't Go To Strangers," and "Darlene." Brown's signature is mixing a bit of an R&B influence with his country, and he's also been successful in the Gospel music arena. Well liked in Nashville, Brown always seems to be involved whenever a tribute concert transpires. (Source SavingCountryMusic.com)

COLE SWINDELL WINS AT THE ACM AWARDS

Cole Swindell won for Song of the Year and Single of the Year, at last night's Academy of Country Music Awards, held in the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. The song was co-written by fellow Georgian, Thomas Rhett. This is Cole's second win at the ACMs. He won New Artist of the Year in 2015.

GEORGIA'S BRYCE LEATHERWOOD WINS "THE VOICE"

The Voice has named the winner of Season 22. Bryce Leatherwood of Woodstock, Ga., has been crowned the Season 22 champion. His fate was revealed during the last seconds of the special two-hour finale, which aired live from Universal Studios Hollywood, in Los Angeles, Calif., on Tuesday night (Dec. 13). Leatherwood, 22, who competed on Team Blake, emerged victorious over his fellow contestants: Team Blake's Bodie and Brayden Lape, Team Camila's Morgan Myles and Team Legends Omar Jose Cardona. His win marks Blake Shelton's ninth overall win, continuing his streak as the coach with the most wins in the history of The Voice. Leatherwood's victory also follows Season 21 winners Girl Named Tom, who competed on Team Clarkson in 2021. Bryce is following the footsteps of other Georgia country acts that have done well on the talent shows, like Caleb Lee Hutchinson from Dallas and Laura Alaina from Rossville in recent years. Both of them did well on American Idol. Past winners win around $100,000 and of course with the exposure, can go onto national success in their career.

DREW PARKER OF COVINGTON, EARNS GRAMMY NOMINATION

COVINGTON, Ga. -- Newton County's own Drew Parker has been nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award as part of the writing team for a hit song for country music superstar Luke Combs. Parker was nominated with Combs and Robert Williford in the Best Country Song category for writing the chart-topping song "Doin' This." "I never dreamed this far," Parker commented on his Facebook page. The song was released in November 2021 and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart on May 21, 2022. It was Combs' 14th consecutive No. 1 single on the Country Airplay chart. Parker, Combs and Williford have some formidable competition for the award. Four other songs were nominated and their writers and singers include country legends Willie Nelson and Rodney Crowell and music superstars Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris and Cody Johnson. A native of the Stewart community in south Newton County, Parker attended Heard-Mixon Elementary and Indian Creek Middle schools before graduating from Alcovy High School in 2010. He got his start as a live performer singing at age 3 in front of church crowds, including at Stewart Baptist Church. Parker said he later changed the kind of music he wanted to perform -- country -- after being inspired by musicians like the late Keith Whitley. Parker is set to headline his "At the End of the Dirt Road" tour beginning Jan. 19 in Athens. His website is www.drewparkermusic.com. The 65th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 5, 2023, on CBS-TV. (Source: Covnews.com)

ALAN JACKSON WINS CMA WILLIE NELSON LIFETIME ACHEAVEMENT AWARD

Three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Alan Jackson was honored with the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 CMA Awards, following a tribute performance by Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson. Jackson expressed his gratitude to the performers before accepting the award. "Thank you so much. Appreciate y'all singing too. That was nice." In his acceptance speech, Jackson shared what attracted him to the genre. "Country music's been real good to me. And I fell in love with it when I was a young man. I really love the instruments, the steel guitars and the fiddles and things like that that gave it such a unique character to me and made it its own. And I love the lyrics and the songs and the artists and the melodies and the harmonies, and it's just real American music to me." He added, "One night watching television and this movie came on about the life of Hank Williams. And it just really inspired me." Past winners of the award are Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Lorretta Lynn. (Source: Nicole Palsa - Musicmayhemmagazine.com)

GEORGIA ACTS NOMINATED FOR CMA AWARDS

Lady A and Little Big Town and other Georgia stars were nominated for CMA awards, annnounced earlier in the week. "Buy Dirt" was nominated for Song of the Year and Single of the Year, which Luke Bryan sings on. Lady A, Little Big Town and Zack Brown Band all are nominated for Vocal Group of the Year. Jason Aldean (with Carrie Underwood) were nominated for Event Of The Year with their hit "If I Didnt Love You". Cole Swindell did the same (with Lainey Wilson), for "Never Say Never", which also was nominated for Video Of The Year. Also, WKXC in Augusta was nominated for Radio Station of the Year for Small Market. The 2022 CMA Awards are scheduled for Nov. 9 on ABC.

GEORGIA SONGWRITER HILLARY LINDSEY ADDED TO NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME

Born in Washington, GA, Hillary Lindsey moved to Nashville in 1994 to attend Belmont University. During her senior year she signed her first publishing deal. In 2002 she celebrated her first #1 hit - "Blessed" by Martina McBride. In 2005 Hillary scored Carrie Underwood's first single from her first album - "Jesus Take The Wheel," a multi-genre hit that earned the 2006 Grammy for Best Country Song, as well as the 2006 ASCAP Country Song of the Year, the 2006 NSAI Song of the Year and the 2005 ACM Single of the Year. Underwood has recorded nearly 40 of Hillary's songs, including "So Small" and "Wasted." Other chart-toppers from Hillary's pen are "American Honey" by Lady Antebellum, "A Little Bit Stronger" by Sara Evans, "Shotgun Rider" by Tim McGraw, "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town (which earned the 2015 Grammy for Best Country Song, the 2015 CMA Song and Single of the Year, the 2015 NSAI Song of the Year) and "Blue Ain't Your Color" by Keith Urban (the 2017 CMA Single of the Year, the 2017 NSAI Song of the Year). Additionally, "I'll Never Love Again" by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (from the film A Star Is Born) earned the 2019 Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Hillary was named ACM Songwriter of the Year in 2019, 2020 and 2021. (Source: MusicRow.com)

GEORGIA ACTS NOMINATED IN CMT AWARDS

(March 16th). Several Georgia country acts were nominated for the 2022 CMT Awards, announced this morning. Jason Aldean, with Carrie Underwood is nominated for Video of the Year for "If I Didn't Love You". Cole Swindel, with Lainey Wilson, for "Never Say Never". Kane Brown for "One Mississippi". Kane Brown also is up for Male Artist of the Year along with Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett. The Zac Brown Band is nominated for Duo / Group of the Year. For Collabarate Video of the Year. Florida Georgia Line for "Lil Bit" as well as Jason Aldean with Carrie Underwood for "If I Didnt Love You", as well as Luke Bryan with Jordan Davis for "Buy Dirt". The awards will air on CBS on Monday, April 11th at 8pm, EST., which marks the first time the show is NOT on CMT. (Source: TasteOfCountry.com).

JASON ALDEAN WINS AT THE ACM AWARDS

(March 8th). Jason Aldean, with Carrie Underwood won last night at the ACM Awards for Single Of The Year with "If I Didn't Love You". Jason was the only Georgia artist to win last night. For the first time, the show was not broadcast on national tv by CBS. It was shown on Amazon Prime Video streaming service instead. The ACM Awards also returned to Las Vegas after taking place in Nashville the past two years. The 2022 ceremony was held at Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.The ACM Awards returned to Las Vegas after taking place in Nashville the past two years. The 2022 ceremony was held at Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.

GEORGIA ACTS NOMINATED FOR ACM AWARDS

(Feb 11th). The 2022 ACM (Academy of Country Music) Awards have announced their nominees for this year's event. Thomas Rhett has been nominated for Male Artist of the Year. Little Big Town and Lady A, both are up for Group of the Year. Thomas Rhett's album "Country Again" is up for Album of the Year. Luke Bryan's "Buy Dirt" is nominated for Single of the Year as well as Kane Brown with Chris Young for their song "Famous Friends". Jason Aldean's "If I Didn't Love You" with Carrie Underwood, also is up for Single of the Year. "Buy Dirt" is also up for Song Of the Year. "Famous Friends" is also nominated for Video of the Year. "Buy Dirt", "Famous Friends" and "If I Didn't Love You" also are up for Event of the Year. The awards will air March 7th from Las Vegas on CBS.

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE TO TAKE A BREAK

(Feb 10th). Florida Georgia Line is going on hiatus. Following speculation that the duo of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley was breaking up after Tyler temporarily unfollowed his band mate on social media in the midst of the 2020 election and canceling their 2021 tour over COVID-19 concerns, FGL is setting the record straight. "I think 'taking a break' is the proper term, as opposed to breaking up," Tyler tells People. Brian, who has moved back to his home state of Florida, insists that they're not parting ways, but rather focusing on their personal passions. The Ormond Beach native recently released his debut solo album, Sunshine State of Mind, and will be embarking on the headlining Made by the Water Tour this spring and summer."We're taking a break from recording our music," Brian says. "We're being artists. We love creating. And so a couple years back, we started writing without each other and trying different writers, and now we're both doing that with our music." (Source: YourGeorgiaCountry.com)

LAUREN ALAINA TO BECOME NEWEST MEMBER OF GRAND OLE OPRY

(Jan 28th). Georgia's own Lauren Alaina will become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, on Saturday night, Feb 12th. She was invited to join by another Georgia star, Trisha Yearwood, back on Dec 21st. After Trisha invited her, Alaina said though joyfull tears, "I have not cried like this in a really long time," "I guess I needed it. [Trisha] is literally my hero. I could have not picked a more perfect person to ask me. She calls me Junior. I'm in her phone as Junior, which is the coolest thing that's ever happened to me besides this." Fans can watch Alaina's Opry induction on Circle Network, on its Saturday night Opry Live livestream on Circle All Access Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. They can listen at onopry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM: Willie's Roadhouse and its radio home 650 AM-WSM. (Mutiple Sources)

ALAN JACKSON REVEALS HEALTH CONDITION

(Sept 27th). In an exclusive interview with TODAY's Jenna Bush Hager, country music icon Alan Jackson revealed that he has been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition. Speaking with Jenna from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Jackson, 62, opened up about the condition, which has been affecting his ability to walk. He was diagnosed with CMT ten years ago. "I have this neuropathy and neurological disease," Jackson said. "It's genetic that I inherited from my daddy ... There's no cure for it, but it's been affecting me for years. And it's getting more and more obvious. And I know I'm stumbling around on stage. And now I'm having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable." The condition affects the peripheral nervous system and causes balance problems by compromising smaller, weaker muscles in the body's extremities. However, the illness does not alter life expectancy. (Source: Today.com)