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No rick rolling here. Rick Astley took to his YouTube channel on Monday (March 3) to deliver a cover of Chappell Roan’s hit, “Pink Pony Club.” In his version, the “Never Gonna Give You Up” star strips the song down to just an acoustic guitar, which he plays while using his characteristically deep vocals to […]
Rapper, vocalist and now actress LISA continues to expand her solo artistry with the highly anticipated project Alter Ego. Fresh off her acting debut as Mook, a hotel staff member on HBO’s original hit series The White Lotus season three (which premiered Feb. 16), the Thai superstar leveraged the social satire’s cross-generational appeal to cement […]
Chappell Roan‘s long-awaited new single finally has a release date. After weeks of teasing — and nearly a year without new music — the pop star has finally announced when she’s dropping new single “The Giver,” and revealed whether or not she’s headed in a country direction on her next album. Sharing a photo of […]
Travis Scott made his presence known at WWE’s Elimination Chamber on Saturday night (March 1) in Toronto — but he may have gone a bit overboard with his role in the beatdown of undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news According to Wrestling […]
The country music industry honored those who get (and keep) country music’s top shows on the road on Monday night (March 3), as the 19th CMA Touring Awards were held in Nashville, as members of Nashville’s country music industry elite gathered at Marathon Music Works.
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The annual awards ceremony honored winners in 20 categories, in addition to honoring one touring individual with the lifetime achievement award. Notably, the touring sector represents the largest category of CMA membership.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern called artists’ touring crews “the backbone of country music’s incredible live experience.” Singer-songwriter-entertainer Keith Urban, who has twice won the CMA’s entertainer of the year honor, served as host for the event for a third year.
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Luke Combs’s Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour crew won the lion’s share of the evening’s trophies, including the evening’s most coveted honor, the crew of the year. Members of Combs’s team and crew also won in categories including tour manager of the year, production manager of the year, lighting director of the year and publicist of the year.
Host Urban said jokingly at one point, “Welcome to the Luke Combs touring awards.” Combs’ record-breaking 2024 stadium tour — which broke attendance records in its first three weekends — has further cemented two-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Combs’s superstar status.
Luke Combs and his team won the overall “crew of the year” honor, in addition to numerous other accolades throughout the CMA Touring Awards ceremony.
John Russell/CMA.
“This is one of the coolest nights of my career,” Combs said as he took the stage and welcomed his entire touring crew onstage with him. “I have done so many incredible things, played os many incredible shows in so many incredible places and none of that happens without these people up here… I owe everything that I have to these guys onstage and so many other people who couldn’t be here with us tonight.” He also thanked all of the touring crews of all country artists for all their hard work behind the scenes.
Last year’s crew of the year winner, Chris Stapleton’s “All-American Road Show Tour” crew, took the trophy with them around the world on Stapleton’s tour. Combs promised to carry on the tradition, saying, “We are going to take this thing to some places that country music has never been this year.”
More touring members were honored in categories including lighting director, tour video director, tour videographer/photographer, stage manager and tour manager. Guitarist Charlie Worsham, who picked up the CMA’s musician of the year honor in November, was named touring musician of the year, for his role on the road with Dierks Bentley.
The evening also highlighted the importance of caring for mental health, as the CMA’s senior vp, industry relations and philanthropy Tiffany Kerns led a segment of the evening devoted to spotlighting the trade organization’s work to help touring crews care for their mental health. They also spotlighted the work of organizations Amber Health, All Access Onsite, MusiCares, Backline, Music Health Alliance and Porter’s Call. The evening also spotlighted the CMA’s Touring Mentorship Program, which aims to give early-career touring professionals access to guidance from experienced touring professionals.
“A healthy professional leads to a healthy community,” Kerns said.
Later in the evening, the late concert promoter Ben Farrell was honored with the CMA Touring Awards’ lifetime achievement award. The accolade is reserved for an individual who has achieved the highest level in the country music field of touring. Farrell began his country music career in 1970 and worked in the industry for 52 years. He remained at Varnell Enterprises for the entirety of his career. Notably, during that time, he also served three decades as a concert promoter for Garth Brooks, first joining Brooks in 1989.
Brooks was among several people who took part in a video tribute to Farrell, with Brooks noting, “I knew him, I loved him, and if you knew him, you loved him, too.”
Over the years, Farrell also worked with such artists as The Statler Brothers, Merle Haggard, Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, George Strait and Charley Pride. Among those honoring Farrell’s legacy Monday night were his wife Autumn, daughter Ella Grace and Morris Higham president/partner Clint Higham.
Higham was also feted as a winner during the evening, being named manager of the year. Higham is known for his decades of work with artists including four-time CMA entertainer of the year winner Chesney, as well as other Morris Higham clients including seven-time CMA group of the year winners Old Dominion, Country Music Hall of Famer Barbara Mandrell and estate work for late music legends Kris Kristofferson and Roger Miller.
See the full list of CMA Touring Awards winners below:
Business manager of the year: Julie Boos (Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy)Coach/truck driver of the year: Wendy Holt (Lainey Wilson)Venue of the year: Ryman Auditoriium (Nashville)Publicist of the year: Carla Sacks (Sacks & Co.)Lighting director of the year: Kevin Northrup (Luke Combs)Tour video director of the year: Tyler Hutcheson (Luke Combs)Tour Videographer/photographer of the year: Andy Barron (Chris Stapleton)Talent agent of the year: Austin Neal (The Neal Agency)Front of House engineer of the year: Todd Lewis (Luke Combs)Monitor engineer of the year: Michael Zuehsow (Luke Combs)Support services company of the year: Dega CateringBackline technician of the year: Derek Benitez (Chris Stapleton)Touring musician of the year: Charlie Worsham (Dierks Bentley)Talent buyer/promoter of the year: Adam Weiser (AEG Presents)Manager of the year: Clint Higham (Morris Higham Management)Production manager of the year: Jerry Slone (Luke Combs)Stage manager of the year: Donnie Floyd (Morgan Wallen)Tour manager of the year: Ethan Strunk (Luke Combs)Unsung hero of the year: Robin Majors (Kenny Chesney)Crew of the year: “Growin’ Up and Getting’ Old Tour” Crew (Luke Combs)Lifetime achievement award: Ben Farrell
A number of stars are continuing to give back to the Los Angeles community following the devastating fires earlier this year via a new initiative, called Help on the Way LA.
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Th initiative is organized by Eric “Kraz” Krasno in partnership with the Song Summit Foundation and Fandiem, and is working to rally musicians and fans to provide urgent support for children and musicians who lost everything in the natural disaster.
Among the stars joining Help on the Way LA include Billy Strings, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Mick Fleetwood, Mick Fleetwood, Nine Inch Nails, Phish’s Trey Anastasio, Warren Haynes, Wynonna Judd, Zac Brown and many more.
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Beneficiaries of Help on the Way LA include the Pasadena Boys & Girls Club, which is providing support to children who lost their schools and homes, and Sweet Relief, which is working to aid musicians who lost their homes and instruments.
“As many of you know, our neighborhood was nearly destroyed by the Eaton fire. My son’s school burned, and countless friends lost their homes and surrounding community. In the midst of the madness, I decided to reach out to friends in the music community to raise some money and help those in need,” Krasno said in a press statement.
Paige Anderson, founder of Song Summit Foundation, added, “We believe in the power of music to bring people together, heal, and create real impact. The devastation caused by the LA fires has left so many in need, and as a foundation dedicated to using music for wellness and community support, we feel compelled to act. This benefit concert and auction will not only raise critical funds for those affected but also serve as a reminder of the strength and resilience that music can inspire in times of crisis.”
Fans can donate via Fandiem here for a chance to win prizes and experiences from artists including signed guitars from Anastasio, Matthews, Fleetwood, Mayer, Brown, Judd and more; a signed print from Phish’s Mike Gordon; a signed photo from Bob Weir and much more.
More prizes will be announced in the coming weeks.
Meek Mill asked a user on X if they would like to “compare lives” after he was called “slow.” Over the weekend, the Philadelphia rapper shared a picture of himself on stage during a prison reform panel alongside Jay-Z, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, and news pundit Van Jones with […]
Rapper G$ Lil Ronnie and his 5-year-old daughter were killed in a double-shooting on Monday morning (March 3) in Texas. According to local affiliate Fox 4, Lil Ronnie (born Ronnie “Chuckie” Smith) and his daughter, R’Mani, were identified by family members as victims of the shooting at a car wash in Fort Hills. Police say […]
Following the devastating news of Carl Dean‘s death, Billy Ray Cyrus and his ex-wife, Tish Cyrus, are sending love to their longtime friend, Dolly Parton, who is mourning her husband. Parton announced his passing in a statement posted to Instagram on Monday (March 3), and both Billy Ray and Tish were among the countless celebrities […]
“New York, that’s Jamaica outside of Jamaica!” Vybz Kartel told Billboard in his January cover story. And in March, the Big Apple will be able to prove Worl’ Boss correct. On Monday (March 3), Kartel announced his first U.S. live performance in more than 20 years, set to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, […]
