Lady Antebellum’s album and songs are topping charts around the world, and in December they announced their new children’s global charity, LadyAID. CMA surprised the group recently with the CMA International Artist Achievement Award, and here are the excerpts from an exclusive CMA Close Up interview: What does this award mean to you? Hillary Scott: “This year especially, being able to take our tour to Europe and then to Australia, and ... Read more

Every vocal duo is a story still being told. And when the members have both a personal and musical bond, it’s often about two roads starting at different places before joining as one highway of song. So it is with Keifer Thompson and Shawna Thompson, a.k.a. Thompson Square. His path began in Miami, Okla., where he grew up on Merle Haggard, Roger Miller, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen as well ... Read more

CMA Research Study Examines Holiday Activities, Shopping Outlets, and Top Gifts Among Country Consumers NASHVILLE – Recent CMA research shows that Country Music fans are embracing the holidays with plans to engage in several seasonal traditions, including the use of modern technology.  Holiday entertaining expenditures are expected to be strong with nearly half of Country Music fans planning to host a holiday party in their home; just as many plan ... Read more

The Country Music Association announced today the new Board of Directors. For the first time, CMA conducted the annual Board of Directors election online. The new Board year begins Jan. 1, 2013. Gary Overton, Sony Music Entertainment Nashville Chairman and CEO, completes his term as Chairman of the CMA Board and current CMA Board President Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville, assumes that post. President Elect, ... Read more

NASHVILLE – During a press conference to announce their new global charity initiative LadyAID™, Lady Antebellum was surprised today when CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore presented the group with the CMA International Artist Achievement Award. Formerly the International Touring Artist Award, the CMA International Artist Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a U.S.-based artist who contributes to the awareness and development of Country Music outside the United States. “We’re ... Read more

Dining Out Frequency and Spending; Restaurant Choices; and Influencing Factors Among Survey Topics Studied As part of its ongoing research initiatives, the Country Music Association announced today the results from its September 2012 CMA Insiders Dining Study. Country Music fans dine out frequently, with 77 percent of respondents indicating they dine out once a week or more, primarily for dinner meals. On average, 46 percent estimate spending more than $50 ... Read more

Some of the most powerful and emotionally moving voices in music come together to celebrate the holidays on “CMA Country Christmas,” which airs Thursday, Dec. 20 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) and repeats Saturday, Dec. 22 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) and Sunday, Dec. 23 (4:00-6:00 PM/ET). The special, which features Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland as host for the third year, airs on the ABC Television Network. Artists on the two-hour special celebrating the season with ... Read more

“CMA Instrumental Healthcare” Unveiled Today at Annual CMA Membership Meeting The Country Music Association has developed a new, improved healthcare program to ensure that CMA members and their families have access to affordable coverage with exceptional benefits. With more options to better fit the needs of CMA Membership, CMA launched CMA Instrumental Healthcare, formerly CMA Sound Healthcare, today during CMA’s annual membership meeting in Nashville. The program is a partnership ... Read more

CMA Award winners Little Big Town surprisedBob Harris of BBC Radio 2 on the CMA Awards Macy’s Walk of Stars Thursday night with the presentation of the 2012 Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award. The award was presented during the red carpet media interviews leading up to the broadcast of “The 46th Annual CMA Awards” on the ABC Television Network. The Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media, which ... Read more

The Country Music Association has selected Lipscomb University junior student Caitlin Selle as the recipient of the 2012 CMA Close Up Award of Merit. The award was created in 2007 to honor the student journalist or photographer who demonstrated the most creativity, dedication, and promise in covering the CMA Music Festival on assignment from CMA. Selle, 20, was presented the award during the backstage press conference coverage of “The 46th Annual CMA Awards” ... Read more

The team of Jennifer Meyer (Senior Producer) and Ray Sells (Supervising Producer) of “CMT Insider,” a half-hour weekly Country Music-centric entertainment magazine program airing on CMT, were presented the 2012 CMA Media Achievement Award backstage in the media center during “The 46th Annual CMA Awards.” “Wow! How fabulous to be recognized by the publicists Ray and I work closely with on a daily basis,” said Meyer. “We have been lucky to make TV shows about ... Read more

Country Music Hall of Fame member and musical icon Willie Nelson was presented with the inaugural CMA Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday during “The 46th Annual CMA Awards.” On receiving the two-foot tall Award from Brad Paisley, Nelson smiled and said, "Wow. You could do push-ups with this. This is a great honor. Thank you to the CMA." “Willie is an iconic musical legend and innovator,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Even as he ... Read more

Shelton Receives Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year Awards; Lambert Is Named Female Vocalist of the Year; Eric Church, Little Big Town and Thompson Square Win Their First CMA Awards; Willie Nelson Receives the First CMA Lifetime Achievement Award, Which Will Now be Known as the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton continued their reigns as Country Music’s Female and Male Vocalists of the Year at “The 46th Annual ... Read more

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw Win CMA Musical Event of the Year for “Feel Like A Rock Star”; Toby Keith and Director Michael Salomon Win CMA Music Video of the Year for “Red Solo Cup” Winners in two of the 12 CMA Awards categories were announced live on “Good Morning America” from New York’s Times Square this morning. The news was welcomed with cheers from the audience gathered on Nashville’s Bridgestone ... Read more

The Country Music Association presented Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, with the Jo Walker-Meador Award Wednesday during the Association’s International Media Reception leading up to “The 46th Annual CMA Awards.” Named for Country Music Hall of Fame member and longtime executive director of CMA – Jo Walker-Meador – the award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual or company in advocating and supporting Country Music’s marketing development in territories ... Read more

In “This Is Country Music,” Brad Paisley averred that even cancer can inspire an honest lyric. The same is apparently true of autism, as Kat’Lee Jones can attest. The Belgian-born Country singer/songwriter became familiar with the condition through friends whose children have been diagnosed with it. What struck Jones even more than its symptoms were the responses they triggered. “The problem is mainly that the world needs to accept them,” ... Read more

CMA Awards Nominee Love and Theft to host Pre-Telecast Awards Ceremonies NASHVILLE – Actor/comedian Tim Allen (star of ABC's "Last Man Standing"), actress Connie Britton (star of ABC's new hit series "Nashville"), Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, Country Music singer/actress Jana Kramer ("One Tree Hill"), Country star Jake Owen, Hayden Panettiere (star of ABC's new hit series "Nashville"), recording artist Lisa Maria Presley, multimedia superstar Reba (star of ABC's new "Malibu ... Read more

NASHVILLE – Downtown Nashville will be making a few traffic adjustments in preparation for “The 46th Annual CMA Awards,” airing on the ABC Television Network, Thursday, Nov. 1 (7:00-10:00 PM/CT) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Production set-up for the CMA Awards will require special traffic patterns.       Saturday, Oct. 27 Beginning at 8:00 AM/CT, Demonbreun Street will close between Fourth Avenue South and Fifth Avenue South. Monday, ... Read more

Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, and The Band Perry to Present Awards During “Country Music’s Biggest Night™” NASHVILLE – The star-packed lineup of performers for “The 46th Annual CMA Awards” grew today with the announcement that Vince Gill, Hunter Hayes, and Keith Urban will perform during “Country Music’s Biggest Night™.” The first round of artists presenting trophies on the three-hour gala were announced including Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, and ... Read more

NASHVILLE – “Good Morning America” announced today that multi-Platinum-selling artist Taylor Swift will kick-off a promotional tour for her highly-anticipated album Red with an exclusive GMA fall concert presentation and made the exclusive announcement that Taylor will debut her new song “Begin Again” on “The 46th Annual CMA Awards.” Although Taylor’s performance on the CMA telecast was confirmed months ago, the special announcement was made this morning on GMA as ... Read more