Wanna get up close and personal with some of the biggest acts in Country Music? The CMA Close Up Stage inside the Music City center is giving you the chance! You’ll need a ticket to get inside Fan Fair X or your four day pass will also get you in! Check out the amazing line up below!
The latest in the hit Country Faith music series, Country Faith Volume 2, was released on November 18th through Word Entertainment. The album proceeds Country Faith Volume 1 which was released back in December of 2013. This album features songs of today and from the past with well-known artists including Luke Bryan, LeAnn Rimes, George Strait and Phil Vassar.
The album features faith-based songs that were chosen by Deborah Evans Price. The album complements the popular book, Country Faith, which was written by Price. Price is an award-winning author/journalist who has worked with publications such as Country Weekly, CMA Close Up and AOL’s The Boot, along with various other publications. Price also has written for Billboard for 22 years, which just adds to her long list of accolades. During Price’s career she had the opportunity to interview artists such as Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Don Henley.
Embed from Getty ImagesPrice reflects on the latest project:
“I’m so excited about this collection of songs on Country Faith Volume 2,” says Evans Price. “The album opens with ‘Pray About Everything,’ Luke Bryan’s upbeat celebration of the power of prayer, and the project continues with such compelling songs of faith as Brad Paisley’s ‘When I Get Where I’m Going,’ Wade Hayes’ ‘What’s a Broken Heart for You,’ Brooks & Dunn’s ‘Believe,’ and many others. Country artists/songwriters have a unique perspective on faith and God’s grace, and I think listeners will find a great deal of comfort and inspiration in these powerful songs.”
In addition, Time Life Music will feature the Country Faith book in a national TV campaign in January for its new Faith, Hope and Country package featuring Bill Cody as host. Also, popular family restaurant chain, Cracker Barrel, will exclusively carry Country Faith Volume 2 in all of its 630 locations. Along with the 13 songs on the standard release, Cracker Barrel will carry the Cracker Barrel edition of Country Faith Volume 2. This special edition album will feature the two exclusive tracks, “God Sends A Train” by American Young along with “Give Me Jesus” by Mo Pitney.
We had the opportunity to interview Price recently and talk about the latest project which even has a new jewelry line you can shop here!
LISTEN TO OUR INTERVIEW WITH DEBORAH EVANS PRICE
Country Faith Volume 2 overall is a perfect collection of faith-based songs that will strike the heart of anyone who listens. Each song tells a story about their faith in their own unique way over a series of various circumstances. Anyone listening to the album will be able to connect with the songs, along with strengthening their faith. There is something for everyone on the album, no matter their age or background. Keep on the lookout for future releases in the series as well as other albums by Word Entertainment.
Track Listing for Country Faith Volume 2
1. Luke Bryan – “Pray About Everything”
2. Michael Ray – “Real Men Love Jesus”
3) Wade Hayes – “What’s a Broken Heart For You”
4) Lee Ann Womack – “Stubborn” (Psalm 151)
5) George Strait – “I Saw God Today”
6) Brad Paisley feat. Dolly Parton – “When I Get Where I’m Going”
7) John Michael Montgomery feat. Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski – “The Little Girl”
8) Drew Baldridge – “Tractors Don’t Roll”
9) Brooks & Dunn – “Believe”
10) LeAnn Rimes – “I Need You”
11) Phil Vassar – “This is God”
12) Wynonna – “Live with Jesus”
13) Shenandoah – “Hallelujah for the Cross”
Cracker Barrel Bonus Tracks
14) American Young – “God Sends A Train”
15) Mo Pitney – “Give Me Jesus”
Then. Now. Forever Country, Has been the catch phrase used to describe the CMA Awards for most of this year and they delivered tonight! The 50th annual broadcast kicked off with stars of the past and present joining together on legendary songs.
Vince Gill started the show off on a sober note singing a tribute to Merle Haggard who passed away earlier this year with Haggard’s son Ben Haggard on guitar.
Embed from Getty ImagesThen came host Brad Paisley with Roy Clark from Hee Haw fame. They launched into “Pickin’ and Grinning.” CMA award host Carrie Underwood belted out the Tammy Wynette classic “Stand By Your Man.” Charlie Pride joined Paisley for Pride’s song “Kiss An Angel Good Morning.” Alabama kept the nostalgia going with their song “Mountain Music.”
Embed from Getty ImagesPaisley and Charlie Daniels team up on Daniels’s hit “Devil went down to Georgia.” Following Paisley and Daniels were Reba McEntire , Dwight Yoakam and Clint Black all singing their own songs! Wrapping up the opening performances was Ricky Skaggs and Paisley dueling guitars on Skaggs’s Song “Country Boy At Heart” then Alan Jackson brought 90’s country back to life with his hit “Don’t Rock The Juke Box.”
Embed from Getty ImagesAll through the opening numbers as an artist finished they stayed on the stage but moved to the background which led to the magical moment that took place at the end of the opening number. Paisley and Underwood brought Randy Travis to the stage and sang his hit song “Forever and Ever Amen” with Travis finishing the song out with the very last word Amen which was a miracle in its self since just a few months ago it was believed Travis would never sing again because of a stroke he suffered in 2013.
Embed from Getty Images
The opening performance set the stage for the entire show which was an amazing walk down memory lane as well as a look what the future holds. The 50th annual CMA Awards from Nashville, TN saw many amazing team ups and moments that will for sure be remembered for years to come. The show featured performances by Brooks & Dunn with Superstar Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line with Tim McGraw, and Dierks Bentley and Elle King with their hit song “Different for Girls.”
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood sang a melody of hits from years past including some iconic duets from some of country music’s greatest couples! Also Joining forces were Alan Jackson and George Strait who sang their songs “Remember When” and “Troubadour” which were used for the in memoriam portion of the awards show, which honored the memories of the stars that have passed on. Tonight’s award show also saw superstar Beyoncé joining The Dixie Chicks on the CMA Awards Stage!
Embed from Getty Images
As always there was plenty of jokes and songs from hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, as always no topic was off-limits. There was jokes about the election, drinks named after artists, Willie Nelson‘s hobbies and of course there was some Tim McGraw and Faith Hill jokes.
While the night revolved around the country music of past, present and future it was also a night of honoring the accomplishments of many of the artist in attendance! This year’s awards saw a lot of artists taking home their first or second CMA awards as well as a country legend returning to the top!
The Winners of the 50th CMA Awards:
The Entertainer of The Year Award was presented to Brooks by Taylor Swift who returns to the CMA Awards stage after being absent from the awards show since 2014 when she crossed over to Pop music full-time!
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 50th annual award show was truly a magical night full of memories of the past and Excitement of the future! Congratulations to all of the winners!
The 50th annual CMA Awards are fastly approaching and the first round of performers were announced! Hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are performing along with their hosting duties. Joining them as performers are Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Keith Urban and Maren Morris! This is just the first round of performers, with many more to come. Since it’s the 50th anniversary of the CMA Awards it promises to be one of the biggest shows ever!
The Nominees were announced in late August By Bentley, Urban and newcomer Cam at the Grand Ole Opry! It has also been announced that Dolly Parton will receive the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award!
Since it’s the 50th anniversary the Country Music Association is going all out! They recently released what is one of the most Unique things ever done they gathered Country super stars from the past, present and the future. The project is called Forever Country and it is a mashup of multiple country classics sang by the legends and superstars of country music!
The 50th annual CMA Awards will air Wednesday November 2nd at 8/7c on ABC! For more information about the CMA Awards visit cmaworld.con
50 year ago, the Country Music Association Awards were formed. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, a special project was put into motion. A music video, that showcased the talent that has been around since the early years of the association, along with artists who are still performing today and all of these artists that will forever represent and be a part of Country Music.
Artists in “Forever Country” include: Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Alabama, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Brett Eldridge, Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Vince Gill, Ronnie Mislap, Little Big Town, Eric Chuch, Kacey Musgraves, Charley Pride, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Reba, Trisha Yearwood and Dierks Bentley.
They were able to get GRAMMY winning Director, Joseph Kahn to make the vision a reality. As with all of Kahn’s creations, he really was the mastermind behind it all. In the making of video, we see the idea for wanting all of these stars to sing a song that represented the last 50 years of Country Music, Kahn suggested a mashup of multiple songs to tie everything together. It makes for one emotional journey, especially with the imagery. The songs include Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again.”
The video was shot in front of green screens, and the end result is a beautiful work of art as we see cities being built and changing from town to town, as is much of the life of a touring artist.
The Ryman can be seen coming together and then fading away as life takes on this journey, but yet always lead back home.
The video ends with a shot of Dolly Parton, singing one of the most recognizable and global songs to date, one that she wrote herself “I Will Always Love You.”
The song encompasses all of these artists and every Country Music artist who ever was and will ever be. It represents the listeners and the relationship artists have with them, the industry, the life. Country Music.
Watch the full music video of ‘Forever Country” here:
Watch the making of “Forever Country”
The 50th annual CMA Awards, will broadcast live from Nashville November 2nd.
