‘ACM Honors’ to Celebrate Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lambert, ‘Yellowstone,’ Shania Twain at August Ceremony

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticThe Black Music Action Coalition has issued a report on representation for Blacks and other people of color in mainstream country music, and, probably unsurprisingly to anyone who has followed the genre and some of its attendant racial controversies, the picture painted isn’t a pretty one.The BMAC issued the damning report Thursday in advance of hosting a panel discussion Saturday at Soho House Nashville, at which point the organization will detail some of the specific changes it is asking for in the industry.“For over 100 years, this country and industry have excluded and marginalized Black people’s contributions to this genre,” said Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, co-founder/co-chair of BMAC, in a statement. “It is our intention with this report to create a truth and reconciliation opportunity for our industry.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticAs the days grow shorter in late fall, there will still be something to smile about for fans of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner. The first American tour by the group, collectively known as the Smile — and not to be confused with Greenwood and Yorke’s other group, Radiohead — has been set for late fall.The trio’s shows in the U.S. will all take place in mid-sized theaters, beginning Nov.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticOn the heels of the release of his “Twelve Carat Toothache” album, Post Malone is announcing a 33-city fall arena tour, with one of the featured artists on the album, Roddy Ricch, as the opening act on all but a few dates.The “Twelve Carat Tour” kicks off Sept. 10 in Omaha at the Chi Health Center and wraps up Nov. 15 at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena.Actually, two of the final dates are in L.A., albeit at different venues — there’s a Nov.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticAnyone who wants to foster the tandem promotion of racism and sedition will have to do it somewhere other than the CMA Festival. The annual gathering has declared that Confederate flag imagery will be banned at the biggest country music festival in the world, which will take place in Nashville June 9-14.The CMA Festival becomes the second large country music festival to institute such a ban, following the Stagecoach Festival April 29-May 1, which also made headlines for putting the flag and associated racially charged imagery on the nixed list.As in that earlier instance, promoters of the CMA Festival did not make an announcement about the ban, but rather it was publicized by journalists looking through the fine print of a list of prohibited items on the festival website, where “Confederate flag imagery of any kind” is listed alphabetically right under “Cameras with a detachable lens longer than 6″.” In a statement given to the Tennessean (which called the move “an under-the-radar decision”), the Country Music Association confirmed the new policy, and pointed out that it had been on the website since that page went up in April.“This year’s CMA Fest is our first major fan-facing event in nearly three years,” said the CMA’s statement.

Morgan Wallen will receive the Academy of Country Music Milestone Award and Yellowstone the ACM Film Award at the 15th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors on Wednesday, August 24 in Nashville.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticAerosmith singer Steven Tyler has entered rehab, necessitating the cancellation of a run of shows in Las Vegas this summer, the veteran band announced on social media Tuesday.The group said in a joint statement that Tyler, whose previous experience with rehab is well-known, relapsed as a result of dealing with pain management in the process of having foot surgery.Refunds for the concerts, part of the group’s “Deuces Are Wild” residency at the Dolby Live theater at Park MGM, will be automatically processed through Ticketmaster or can be obtained at the point of purchase, the band said. The announcement added that a further set of residency shows is expected to proceed beginning in September.

Miranda Lambert is currently on cloud nine as she took to social media to reveal that she had made the illustrious Time 100 list for 2022.MORE: Miranda Lambert gets fans talking with incredible Diddy pictureALSO: HELLO! launches Jubilee T-shirt collection to celebrate Queen Elizabeth in styleThe singer was included in the list of innovators for 2022, one that also featured the likes of Amanda Seyfried, Zendaya, Quinta Brunson, Andrew Garfield, and many others.VIDEO: Sweet moment between Miranda Lambert and Brendan McLoughlin you may have missed at the CMT Music AwardsShe shared a snapshot of herself from the issue, wearing a cowboy hat and a net across her face, sharing with a message how much the honor meant to her."I'm so honored to join this year's class of #TIME100," she wrote. "I only ever wanted to sing and write songs and thanks to y'all I've gotten to do that and so much more.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticFor music fans in Music City, it’s a weekend of sad and possibly promising news. Developers have announced a plan to build a $40 million amphitheater and adjacent entertainment complex in Murfreesboro, a city within easy driving range of Nashville.That may or may not assuage any of the letdown that Nashvillians are feeling over the closure this week a venue complex that has been an integral part of the city’s music scene for 19 years, with the Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom and High Watt all going dark after the operator and landlord couldn’t come to terms.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticSinger-songwriter Allison Russell, who is on a streak of awards-show nominations and wins with her “Outside Child” album, won two top awards, artist of the year and song of the year, at Wednesday night’s International Folk Music Awards.The program was held as the kickoff to the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, MO.Song of the year went to Crys Matthews for “Changemakers.” Matthews performed at the two-hour show, as did the group Isaac Cates & Ordained and nominees Diana Jones and John Smith.Russell has kept up a busy awards calendar. Over the weekend, she had been in her native Canada to pick up a Juno Award for best contemporary roots album. Monday, she was announced as being tied for a leading number of nominations — three — for the Americana Honors, where Russell will be up for artist, album and song of the year at a ceremony to be held in Nashville in September.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticBob Neuwirth, a recording artist and mainstay of the New York City folk scene in the 1960s, and a collaborator with Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, John Cale and Peter Case, among others, died in Santa Monica Wednesday night at age 82. The cause of death was heart failure.“On Wednesday evening in Santa Monica, Bob Neuwirth’s big heart gave out,” said his longtime partner, entertainment executive Paula Batson, in a statement. “He was 82 years old and would have been 83 in June.

Miranda Lambert has fans talking on Monday when she shared a picture of herself with Elle King and rap star P Diddy.Exclusive: Miranda Lambert's stylist shares the singer's wardrobe secrets"Livin that honky tonk dream," she captioned the picture which was taken at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday and saw Miranda and Elle posing with Diddy, who had his arms wrapped around the pair.WATCH: Miranda Lambert returns to the stage after Palomino release"A country, rap, and rock star walk into a bar," commented one fan, adding: "Love this picture.""I’d be down for a Diddy, Miranda, Elle collaboration," shared another.SEE: The show-stopping red carpet looks from the Billboard Music Awards 2022Miranda and Elle were both still rocking their stage looks after the country music singer took to the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas with Elle to sing a rendition of their hit song Drunk (And I Don't Wanna Go Home).  Miranda rocked the navy one-piece embossed with star motifs in varying sizes and a floral embroidered accent across her waist.In true Miranda style, her outfit featured dramatic blue fringing along the arms that fell to below her knees.A post shared by Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert)Miranda shared the snap taken with Diddy and ElleShe accessorized with layered necklaces and wore her blonde hair down in loose waves.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic“Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration” was broadcast live on CMT Sunday night two weeks and one day after the country music legend died. But it hadn’t been half that long in the planning. The show’s gestation really came just a week prior to air date, on — appropriately enough — Mother’s Day.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticBrandi Carlile, Yola and Allison Russell lead the nominations for the 2022 Americana Honors & Awards with three nods each, the Americana Music Association announced during a live unveiling Monday afternoon at Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music.Adia Victoria and the duo of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss also fared well in the voting, each drawing two nominations, in a small crop of categories where it’s generally not possible for any artist to get more than three noms in a single year.The Americana Honors & Awards show takes place Sept. 14 at the Ryman Auditorium, and is the flagship event during the AmericanaFest conference, which will take place for a 22nd year at venues around Nashville on Sept.

Travis Scott and Morgan Wallen made controversial returns on the Billboard Music Awards stage on Sunday, while Mary J. Blige was honored for her musical excellence.Wallen performed in his first major awards show after he was caught on camera more than a year ago using a racial slur. After not receiving a verbal introduction, the country star sat alongside his four-piece band and performed “Don’t Think Jesus” then his chart-topping “Wasted on You,” a single from his popular project “Dangerous: The Double Album.”Shortly after his performance, rapper Pusha T presented Wallen with the top country artist award.“I want to say, ‘Thank God.’ And thank my fans.

It was a night of redemption at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night.First, there was country star Morgan Wallen — who had been banned from performing at the Grammys and the Country Music Association Awards for a video that surfaced in early 2021 of him using the N-word — getting the chance to take the stage at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. He milked the opportunity by going gospel for maximum sympathy with his song “Don’t Think Jesus.” Then there was Travis Scott performing publicly for the first time since last December’s Astroworld tragedy that killed 10 concertgoers.

Travis Scott and Morgan Wallen returned to the stage at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. This marks the first major televised appearances these music stars have made since their respective controversies last year.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticThe Billboard Music Awards telecast positioned itself this year as the official awards show of forgiveness for so-called “canceled” stars, with performance slots offered to both Morgan Wallen and Travis Scott. In the case of Wallen, that also extended to a major on-air award, as Wallen was called to the BBMAs’ podium Sunday night to accept a trophy for top country artist.It wasn’t Wallen’s first win at an awards show since his career time-out in early 2021; he won album of the year at the fan-voted Academy of Country Music Awards in March.

Morgan Wallen took to the stage to perform at this year’s Billboard Music Awards after previously being cancelled for his use of the N-word.

Morgan Wallen’s performance.The country star was banned from last year’s ceremony – among other awards shows – after footage of him using a racial slur surfaced online.However, it was announced in the days leading up to the event that Wallen would be performing at this year’s ceremony, which is being held tonight (May 15) at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. In the minutes before he took to the stage, civil rights activist Tamika Mallory was given an award and delivered a message about social justice and anti-racism.The BBMAs 2022 also opened with a message offering condolences to the victims of a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, which saw 10 people killed in a racially motivated attack, and another shooting in Laguna Words, California in which one person was killed.Wallen performed his tracks ‘Don’t Think Jesus’ and ‘Wasted Alone’ at the ceremony.