ABC/Craig SjodinJourneys of Faith, a podcast hosted by ABC's Paula Faris, debuts its first three episodes Wednesday, November 14. Faris takes an intimate look at how some of the world’s most influential people lean on faith and spiritualit...
Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockLuke Bryan will be performing an intimate show for Citi/AAdvantage card members on December 3 at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. Card members can currently purchase tickets using their Citi card. Lee ...
Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockLuke Bryan will be performing an intimate show for Citi/AAdvantage card members on December 3 at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. Card members can currently purchase tickets using their Citi card. Lee ...
ABC/Image Group LAKelsea Ballerini is up for Female Vocalist of the Year at Wednesday's CMA Awards, but she's convinced that she has no chance of winning...because she's practical.
"I feel like hopefully there will be a year where I feel like maybe it might be this year, but it's not this year," she tells ABC Radio. "It's not time for me yet. Every year, things seem to grow in a positive direction, so we'll see."
O.K. so if Kelsea doesn't think she's going to win, who does she think will take home the trophy? The co-host of the CMA telecast, Carrie Underwood.
"I think it's Carrie's," predicts Kelsea. "She put out a beautiful album, she's working her tail off, she's about to have a baby and she's still working her tail off! And if you're actually going on vocalists, she's just the queen. I think it's her year!"
And even if Kelsea doesn't win, she's got plenty to be proud of: 2018's been quite a year for her.
"I started the year with a headlining tour, which is just something that feels really special to me, to have people in the room that connect with an album enough to sit there with you for two hours," she tells ABC Radio. "That was amazing."
"And then opening for Keith Urban...and learning from him," Kelsea continues, "And then doing the coaching on The Voice, and doing a single with the Chainsmokers and releasing my third single off my record...it's just been crazy!"
Tune in Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC to see if Kelsea's prediction of a Carrie Underwood victory comes true.
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
ABC/Image Group LALady Antebellum are up for Vocal Group of the Year at Wednesday's CMA Awards. They've been attending the show for about a decade now and Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott say there are certain things they look forward to seeing on the show each year.
"Seeing these new artists, I think...'cause this is what these shows are, to me -- to break new artists, and to show people, 'This is the new crop,'" Charles tells ABC Radio. "And also, you're always excited to see Keith Urban and our buddy Luke [Bryan] and see what they do...there's so many [things] to look forward to!"
Hillary Scott adds that personally, she's excited to attend the CMA Awards so she can spend time with their fellow artists, who they rarely get to see.
"We all tour kinda at the same time, we're never in the same place at the same time except on nights like this," she explains. "So to be able to hug a lot of my best girlfriends and say hi, it's really special."
One of those girlfriends Hillary's looking forward to seeing is Kelsea Ballerini. Lady A brought her out on tour with them when she was up-and-coming, and now she's nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.
"I'm so unbelievably proud for her and everything that's going on...her poise, and her record," gushes Hillary. "And obviously she's like a baby sister to me, so I'm rooting for her for sure!"
Tune in Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on ABC. to see if Lady A can beat out young upstarts Old Dominion, LANCO and Midland to capture the Vocal Group of the Year trophy for a fourth time.
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
ABC/Image Group LABrett Young married his longtime girlfriend Taylor Mills earlier this month in California, but he's returned from his honeymoon in enough time to attend the CMA Awards on Wednesday, where he's up for New Artist of the Year. He tells ABC Radio his wedding couldn't have gone better -- thanks to Taylor.
"She did such a good job planning the wedding...I'm glad I stayed out of it as much as I did, 'cause it was a lot of fun surprises for me throughout the day," he laughs.
The wedding day, which featured 81 degree weather, sunshine and a waterfall, was "just literally fairy-tale and perfect," says Brett.
Adding to the festivities were performances by Luke Combs, Lee Brice and Gavin DeGraw. Brett sang too, but he admits, "I got super-emotional and forgot lyrics and screwed up the song...it was just a nightmare!" Luckily, everyone was still talking about how great Luke, Lee and Gavin were so, he says, nobody really noticed.
The couple's honeymoon was almost a nightmare, too -- until they made a bold move.
"We went to the Virgin Islands and it rained for three days straight!" Brett tells ABC Radio. "We finally went, 'O.K., we just gotta go somewhere where it's sunny.' So I found a non-stop flight from St. Croix to Miami...and we ended up having three amazing days on the beach...it was fantastic!"
Also fantastic? Brett's nomination, which he says has given him "a sense of validation."
But, he notes, "When you're up against so much talent, it's one of those things where if you actually do sneak away with [the award], it feels like you stole one, a little bit!"
Tune in to see if Brett steals the award Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
ABC/Image Group LALauren Alaina is the only female artist nominated in the Best New Artist category at this Wednesday night's CMA Awards. While she'd like to win, she thinks she doesn't have much chance, especially against one particular nominee in her category.
"I got to tour all summer with Luke Combs and the force that is Luke Combs is unstoppable," Lauren tells ABC Radio. "And I just got to witness what he's done first-hand every night. I would obviously love to win but I'm really proud to represent the ladies, and just to be nominated at all. It's been a really amazing year."
And what are some of the things Lauren's done that have made this year amazing?
"I was able to go out on the road and feel the difference, to see it first-hand with the fans, and to feel the impact that we've had. And I got engaged!" she laughs. "It's just been a lot of pinch-me moments. And then winning the ACM and now to be nominated as [CMA] Best New Artist, I'm just really proud. It's been really crazy."
But while Lauren's thrilled to be nominated there's something she says she'd like to see next year. "How amazing would it if next year, in the [New Artist] category, there's one male and four females?" she asks.
Even if she doesn't win Wednesday night, Lauren's got a few more things to celebrate: Her duet with Kane Brown, "What Ifs," has just gone quadruple platinum, and Kane recorded a song she co-wrote for his new album, Experiment.
"That's a big moment for me!" she laughs.
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
ABC/Image Group LAScotty McCreery's successful 2018 continues with recognition for his song "Barefootin.'" Penned by Scotty, David Lee Murphy and Frank Rogers, "Barefootin'" was named National Song of the Year at the 2018 Carolina Beach ...
ABC/Image Group LALANCO is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at Wednesday's CMA Awards, and lead singer Brandon Lancaster says he can barely handle the fact that they're nominated, let alone imagine actually winning.
"It does sound cliche but really, we're new to the scene. Last year, going to the CMAs, we were just happy to be there and this year, to have a nomination and to be in the category we're in and to see the other artists that are in there, it's incredible," he tells ABC Radio. "We're honored."
"Winning it? I don't even know...my mind, it goes there sometimes, [but] I almost push it off," he laughs. "I'll clear some room in my trophy case. I don't have a trophy case! I would GET a trophy case!"
But if the "Born to Love You" hitmakers don't go home with the Vocal Group of the Year Award, Brandon says he'd be O.K. if a certain other nominee in the category wins instead.
"I probably have the closest personal ties to Old Dominion," he tells ABC Radio. "We've played bars with them and watched them kinda go on the same journey that we have and [we've] written with those guys."
"They've worked so hard and really, they deserve it," he adds. "The hard work has just paid off so I would like to see them get it, for sure."
To see if either LANCO or Old Dominion take home the trophy, tune in to the CMA Awards this Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
The future of water and conservation are the key areas of focus during the governor’s water conference going on this week in Manhattan. Among Tuesday’s speakers was Tom Kula, executive director of the North Texas Municipal Water District who shared some permitting reform recommendations his agency has noticed as they began construction recently on his [...]
The post Governor’s water conference highlights success of water reservoirs, improving efficiencies in permitting appeared first on News Radio KMAN.
