In case you missed it...
CMT’s “Artist of The Year” 2022 will take place October 14th at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and this year’s honorees have just been announced. The network announced that this year’s ceremony will celebrate Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Walker Hayes, with Carly, Cody and Walker being honored for the first time. “We are honored to recognize the astounding achievements of this illustrious group of artists over the past year,” Margaret Comeaux, CMT’s Senior Vice President of Production, Music & Events, shares. “Carly, Cody, Kane, Luke and Walker all represent the vibrant future of the country music format, as they defy convention and blaze new trails, breaking industry records and genre barriers,” adding, “We can’t wait to celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments alongside their fellow artists and friends.” Carly took to social media to react to the honor, sharing, “The last year of my life has been something out of a country music fairy tale. All of the dreams I’ve had since I was a little girl have made their way to my reality,” noting, “Thank you @CMT for naming me one of their Artists of the Year. What a year it’s been for a girl who always wanted to sing country music 🥲♥️.”
A classic Willie Nelson concert is being released as a live album this fall. “Willie Nelson Live At Budokan,” recorded during his 1984 concert at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, is set to drop November 18th. The live album will be released in a variety of formats including digital, CD and DVD, as well as a two-LP 12-inch vinyl, that will be released to independent record stores November 25th for Record Store Day Black Friday. PBS is also set to air “Willie Nelson Live At Budokan” November 26th. ONE MORE THING! Willie’s new book, “Me and Paul: Untold Stories of a Fabled Friendship" is out now, and while the book details his longtime friendship with drummer Paul English, the book also has Willie detailing a suicide attempt back in the early days of his career. He recounts his frustrations at not being able to get his career started in Nashville, calling it a "definite low point" and noting, "depression had me in its grips." Then, after drinking one night at Tootsie's he got inspired by a Lightnin' Hopkins song in which he sang about “feeling so bad until he lay his head on some lonesome railroad line and let it ease his troubled mind.” Willie writes that he decided to lie down in the middle of the road on Broadway to let a car run him over, but after 15 minutes no cars came. “Was I relieved? Was I disappointed? Can't say for sure,” he writes. “All I know is that I got up, went back to Tootsie's, and had another drink."
Taylor Swift may have left Country music, but her mark has been made. Last night, at the Ryman Auditorium, Tay was named Songwriter-Artist of the Decade at the Nashville Songwriter Awards. The honor marked her success between 2010 and 2019 when she transitioned from Country to Pop. The crowd was reminded of the “Shake It Off” singer’s record-breaking seven wins in the songwriter-artist of the year category. Toby Keith (2000-09) and Vince Gill (1990-99) are two previous winners of the decades award.