In case you missed it...
It's like a country music festival, but instead of the heat, the crowds and the expense, you can enjoy it in your air conditioned living room from the comfort of your sofa - absolutely free. CMT is bringing a whole truckload of summer programming bound to excite anyone that calls themselves a country music fan. The cornerstone of CMT's summer lineup is "CMT Summer Sessions." Starting July 7th, the weekly series will feature live performances by some of country's biggest names from lakeside at Southall in Franklin, Tennessee. The schedule is as follows:
July 7 (9p/8c) – Tanya Tucker
July 14 (9p/8c) – Chris Janson
July 21 (9p/8c) – BRELAND
July 28 (9p/8c) – “Summer Jams” hosted by BRELAND ft. Ashley McBryde, Chris Janson, Lee Brice & Tanya Tucker
August 4 (9p/8c) – Jordan Davis
August 11 (9p/8c) – Lee Brice
August 18 (9p/8c) – “90s Country” hosted by Lee Brice ft. Ashley McBryde, BRELAND, Chris Janson & Tanya Tucker
August 25 (9p/8c) – Ashley McBryde
On top of that, CMT is filling out their summer schedule with "CMT Summer Camp" with Tyler Hubbard; The "CMT Hot 20 Summer Countdown - 10 Year Anniversary Special" with special appearances from superstars Blake Shelton, Dan + Shay, Scotty McCreery and many more (airing Saturday, July 8 & Sunday, July 9 at 9a/8c); and, for the July 4th holiday, "CMT HOT 20 PRESENTS: LET FREEDOM SING!" - Tuesday, July 4 at 10p/9c. Broadcasting live from downtown Nashville, CMT Hot 20 Countdown will have Brad Paisley headlining this 30-minute concert special, immediately followed by a commercial-free presentation of one of the largest fireworks displays in the country, accompanied by the Nashville Symphony.
Miranda Lambert has long loved animals and supported those facilities and charities that care for them. Her MuttNation Foundation has been instrumental in getting much-needed funds to foster-based animal rescue shelters across the country - and for the third straight year, the foundation has delivered in a big way. Miranda - through MuttNation - has donated $250K to be distributed to shelters in all 50 states. Through a partnership with Tractor Supply Company, the non-profit established the Mutts Across America program, which is supplying one shelter in each state with a $5K grant. In addition to choosing a shelter in all 50 states, MuttNation made a donation in Washington, D.C., and selected a bonus "wildcard" location to receive a grant as well. "Finding deserving shelters and rescue groups across the country is easy,” Lambert's mother and co-founder of MuttNation, Bev Lambert, admits, adding, "It’s narrowing it down to just one in each state that’s really tough." "Mutts Across America is MuttNation’s cornerstone - it was our first signature program,” Miranda explains. "These grants give us the chance to show our appreciation and spotlight shelters across the country for their hard work, year-round, to improve the lives of shelter pets." Mutts Across America began nine years ago and has awarded more than $1.75M in grants to more than 450 animal rescues.
We told you earlier this yesterday that it was coming, and it's here today. Darryl Worley has dropped a follow-up/sequel to his 2003 hit "Have You Forgotten?" updated for 2023. Titled "Have We Forgotten?", the song's message is "that we as a people here in America need to think about what we can do to help with the problem of division,” Worley told People magazine. Check out the newly revised song below...