ACM Tempo | Spring 2022 by Academy of Country Music

TEMPO ACM

SPRING 2022

Q&A with ACM

Award Nominee

PRISCILLA BLOCK + rising star RANDALL KING

Superstar

DOLLY PARTON

to Host the 57TH ACM Awards in Vegas With Co-Hosts Jimmie Allen & Gabby Barrett

ACM AWARDS NOMINEES A Complete List

WATCH LIVE | MARCH 7 | ONLY ON

City National® proudly supports the

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and congratulates this year’s winners and nominees.

Discover The way up® at cnb.com

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Contents 6

CEO Note

ACM News

Let’s Lift Lives

In Memory

ACM Moment

10 | FRESH FACES Meet the new staffers and interns who have joined the ACM team

28 | RANKING UP Get to know Priscilla Block and Randall King as they make their way into the Nashville scene

35 | MEET YOUR CO-HOSTS ACM Awards winners Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett join Dolly Parton as co-hosts of the 57th ACM Awards

Cover Story

Hear from the fabulous Dolly Parton, your

57th ACM Awards host!

PAGE 32

38 | JOIN THE FUN IN VEGAS Get tickets to attend this year’s awards show live in-person or get competitive at Topgolf Tee-Off & Rock On Presented by Canteen Spirits

42 | ACM NOMINEES The complete list of the 57th ACM Awards nominees

ON THE COVER: Photography by Art Streiber

Courtesy of Prime Video

acmcountry.com

ACM

TEMPO

E D ITO R ’ S N OTE

E ditor

Libby Gardner

Vegas, Here We Come!

A ssistant E ditor

Hannah Kellis C ontributors

Sally Bishop, Tricia Despres, Craig Shelburne D esign

hese days you’ll find the ACM staff working more

Randi Karabin, Karabin Creative

than just 9 to 5. As March 7 approaches, our small yet

Graphic Visions Commerical Printing

mighty team, amazing Board of Directors, Membership and partners at MRC Live + Alternative and Amazon Studios are all-hands-on-deck to deliver a spectacular and unlike-ever-before ACM Awards show. We are thrilled to have the Country Music community

back in Las Vegas to celebrate the 57th ACM Awards. As

we’ve all faced our own fair share of trials and tribulations these past two years, the

P rinting P hotos

ACM, Yve Assad, Logan Christoper, Getty Images, Joe Howell, John Russell, Art Streiber: Courtesy of Prime Video, Vanderbilt University ACADEMY STAFF CEO

Damon Whiteside E xecutive D irector/ACM L ifting L ives

Lyndsay Cruz

artists, songwriters, musicians and industry together have energized us by keeping the

Vice P resident/Finance & O perations

music playing and their voices loud. And now we get to honor them and Country Music

Vice P resident/Strategic Partnerships

with the party of the year. Global superstar Dolly Parton will grace the ACM Awards stage as host for only the second time in the Academy’s history beside co-hosts and the reigning ACM New Male and Female Artists of the Year, respectively, Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett. The two co-hosts kicked-off their gig early, taking to Twitter last month to announce a handful of nominations. The Academy is proud to celebrate a talented, diverse and history-making list of nominees. The main awards list includes an increase in female representation from 35% to 37% and the LGBTQ+ community is represented by nominees TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne, Lily Rose and Shane McAnally. The Academy also stands by one of its core values — raising up the artists in the early stages of their careers. 35% of this

Alexa Fasheh Jen Heaton

Vice P resident/M arketing and D igital Strategy & E ngagement

Rory Levine

Vice P resident/A rtist & I ndustry R elations , B oard A dministration & G overnance

Tommy Moore

D irector/C reative & C ontent

Brandon Campbell

D irector/D esign & B rand C reative

Lori Kraft

D irector/B rand M arketing & Partnerships

Steve Mekler

D irector/C ommunications , M edia R elations & R adio

Melissa Moldovan D irector/Events

year’s nominees are first-time nominees in their respective categories. See the full list

Lanni (Gagnon) Niggli

including main, radio, studio recording and industry awards nominees on page 42.

Jennifer Davis

In this issue we also get the inside scoop from ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee, Priscilla Block, who is the reason I downloaded (and am now addicted to) TikTok and Texas native, rising star Randall King. As always, ACM Lifting Lives remains at the forefront of the Academy’s efforts. Returning this year is the ACM Lifting Lives Topgolf Tee-Off & Rock On Presented by Canteen Spirits. The event, headlined by the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan, precedes the 57th ACM Awards. ACM Lifting Lives also continues to support the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, and in this issue, we hear from Dr. Miriam

M anager/Events M anager/Strategic Partnerships

Rebecca Fisher

M anager/C reative & C ontent

Libby Gardner

M anager/ P ublicity & M edia R elations

Jesse Knutson

M anager/Awards & M embership

Haley Montgomery

M anager/A rtist & I ndustry R elations , B oard A dministration & G overnance

Maddy Stessman

M anager/L ifting L ives

Lense at Vanderbilt whose research in the Music Cognition Lab directly benefits from

Taylor Wolf

ACM Lifting Lives’ funding.

Hannah Kellis

I could go on and on about what we at the Academy are all incredibly grateful for, excited about, and proud of, but truthfully, I need to start packing for Vegas. A memorable, unique and exciting ACM Awards show lies ahead — Viva Las Vegas!

C oordinator/C reative & C ontent C oordinator/D igital & S ocial M edia

Dayna Poskanzer

E xecutive A ssistant to the CEO

Kristan Pridgen

A ssistant/Events

Alexis Bingham

A ssistant/M arketing & C ommunications

Carrie McDonough

Libby Gardner Tempo Editor

acmcountry.com

I nterns

Dalila Bevab - Marketing Sally Bishop - Creative & Content Anam Faruqi - Lifting Lives Ciara McKay - Artists & Industry Relations Charlotte Meade - Events Cara Siegel - Strategic Partnerships Michael Stern - Events Julia Wang - Marketing

GT L AW.COM

CO N G R A T U LA T I O N S

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES E S P E C I A L LY O U R C L I E N T S

Buzz Brainard Brooks & Dunn Kane Brown Kenny Chesney Dan + Shay Jesse Frasure Nicolle Galyon Ania Hammar Michael Knox

Lady A Miranda Lambert Little Big Town Parker McCollum Old Dominion Josh Osborne Thomas Rhett Chris Young

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FRO M TH E CEO

Dear Academy Members, This is an exciting time for the Academy as we embark on the ACM Awards season and a triumphant return to our home of Las Vegas! Everyone’s favorite, Country Music’s Party of the Year, is back, but it’s also fresh, reimagined and bigger than ever. We have a super-sized show in beautiful Allegiant Stadium and will be livestreaming to the world, commercial free, on Amazon Prime Video. The new two-hour show format will be packed with wall-to-wall music, and viewers in the audience and at home will not want to miss a second of the fast-paced action. For this major reboot, we knew we needed a very special host, and we could not be more thrilled than to have worldwide icon, Dolly Parton, who will lead the festivities. As we always shine a light on our talented rising stars, we are so pleased to also have our reigning ACM New Male and Female Artists of the Year, Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett, joining as co-hosts. This year’s show will be a large-scale celebration of our format and bring what the ACM Awards are known for — Country legends, superstars, emerging artists, unique collaborations and fresh musical interpretations of the year’s biggest hits. As evidenced by the exciting 57th ACM Awards nominations slate, it’s going to be an epic event, and we will proudly show the world “This Is How We Country.” The ACM Awards weekend will have plenty of activities to be a part of as you would expect. Our host hotel this year for industry is the Park MGM and Nomad hotels and we have special ACM group rates to assist you. We kick off Saturday, March 5 with our Radio and Digital Row, which will continue through the weekend. Sunday will see the return of our expanded popular event, Top Golf Tee-Off and Rock On, which will be headlined by our reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan, all in support of ACM Lifting Lives. That evening there will be a fantastic concert lineup, Hangover Fest, taking place at the House of Blues and benefiting ACM Lifting Lives. The climax of the weekend is the 57th ACM Awards on Monday night. It will be kicked-off with an elegant red carpet featuring our official ACM Awards Red Carpet show streaming live on Amazon Prime, Twitch and People/EW.com. Finally, Tuesday will be many of you returning home from an action-packed few days and reliving the great memories. For anyone that misses any part of the livestream, it will be available globally the next day on Prime Video and the free ad-supported IMDb TV streaming services. We cannot be more excited to be back in person with our valued ACM Members and to honor all of our talented nominees and winners! Please reach out to me or anyone on the ACM staff if you have any questions or need any support in making this a fun experience. I’d like to close by applauding the incredible hard work by our ACM staff, ACM and ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors, and our partners at MRC Live & Alternative and Amazon Studios. We simply couldn’t do it without all of these passionate and dedicated people that will make Country Music look great on the world stage! Viva Las Vegas,

Damon Whiteside Chief Executive Officer

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Stream the 57th ACM Awards Catch the 57th ACM Awards exclusively livestreaming without commercial interruption Monday, March 7 at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST/5 p.m. PST on Amazon Prime Video. You won’t want to miss our host, the legendary Dolly Parton,

Party in Vegas

artists Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett as co-hosts! The live show

Tickets are available now for the 57th ACM Awards at

will give fans around the world

Allegiant Stadium on Monday, March 7. Come to Las

a nonstop party to celebrate

Vegas and watch it live and in person! Tickets are selling

Country Music’s biggest stars.

fast, get yours at ticketmaster.com today.

joined by ACM Award winning

acmcountry.com

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Lori Kraft, Director, Brand Creative & Design

ori Kraft joins the Academy as Director, Brand Creative & Design. Kraft’s background in design includes US Weekly, Field & Stream and Better Home & Gardens, among other national magazine brands. Most recently, she served as a freelance Art Director for several clients including Ryman Hospitality and Big Machine Music, as well as several creative agencies. Originally from New Jersey, Kraft received her bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Monmouth University. In her role, she will steer the overall visual branding and identity of the organization, as well as major programmatic and live event tentpoles like the ACM Awards®, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Party for a Cause®, and work closely with the Director of Content and Manager of Digital and Social Media to strategize support media and content strategies. She reports to Rory Levine, VP, Marketing and Digital Strategy & Engagement.

STEVE MEKLER, DIRECTOR, BRAND MARKETING & PARTNERSHIPS Steve Mekler joins the Academy after more than three years with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum where he served as Senior Digital Manager, overseeing creative and marketing for owned properties and assisting with content strategies for multiplatform marketing campaigns. Over those three years, Mekler simultaneously founded and serves as Creative Director at Stove Creative, collaborating with dozens of clients in a global marketplace. Previous stops include L3 Entertainment and BBR Music Group. In his role, Mekler will lead and manage the Academy’s organic promotional reach through both traditional and unexpected partnerships and collaborate heavily with the marketing and creative departments to develop and maintain a clear brand identity for the Academy. He reports to Rory Levine, VP, Marketing and Digital Strategy & Engagement.

MUSIC

Habitual Fans Members of the Academy received their first customized research report from the Academy’s partner, MRC Data. This edition covers synergy between Country listeners and other genres, music discovery, and behavioral habits of loyal Country fans. Members will also be invited to participate in a

75 %

this data. More information regarding the panel will be distributed via email.

VERY

66 %

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62 %

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52 %

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of Cou ntry fans find new music via soci and vide al media o clips

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DISCO

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POW ERED

acmcountry.com

NOVE MBER

2021

acmcountry.com

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REBECCA FISHER, MANAGER, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Jennifer Davis, Manager, Events

orn and raised in Westchester, New York, Jennifer Davis attended Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT where she received her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Marketing. Upon graduation, she went on to work in the events industry, planning various non-profit and corporate galas throughout New York City with event firm Buckley Hall Events. Davis then shifted to the venue side of the business and was on the special events team at Madison Square Garden, coordinating a portfolio of network television upfronts, the American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards, television and film Shoots, NYU graduations, and more at MSG venues including Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, Hulu Theater at MSG, Chicago Theatre, and MSG Arena. Prior to joining the Academy, she more recently led VIP & Fan Experience and Events for FirstBank Amphitheater’s inaugural concert season in Franklin, TN, after her big move from New York City to Nashville in January 2021. In her role as Manager, Davis will manage venue logistics and event operations for the ACM Awards, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Party for a Cause events, including red carpet, credentials, health and safety, budgets, décor, signage, transportation, food and beverage, partnership fulfillment and talent details. With the support of her department and the events committee, she will also manage additional meetings, ancillary events and activations throughout the year. She reports to Lanni (Gagnon) Niggli, Director, Events.

acmcountry.com

Born and raised in Modesto, California, Rebecca Fisher graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Upon graduation, she moved to San Francisco, where she worked with innovative companies Workday and Experian, managing client relations and customer marketing for Fortune 500 companies. In 2017, Fisher joined Taillight in Nashville, TN, a leading production company specializing in commercials, branded content, live television programming, and music videos. Fisher created campaigns for major brands including Kleenex, Cottonelle, Ram Trucks, Camping World, and many more. During her time at Taillight, she had the pleasure of working on ACM Party for a Cause, producing a one-hour musical countdown to the awards show on Facebook Live. In her role as Manager, Fisher will manage and activate partnerships for the Academy and will manage relationships with key strategic partners, communicate sponsorship needs internally, and secure new respective ACM brand partners. She will also oversee brand activations and sponsorship at the ACM Awards. She reports to Jen Heaton, VP, Strategic Partnerships.

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KRISTAN PRIDGEN, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO

Jesse Knutson, Manager, Publicity & Media Relations

Seattle native, Jesse Knutson is a multi-Emmy Award winning journalist who has worked in both producing and reporting roles for TV stations in Los Angeles, Seattle, Harrisburg, PA, and, most recently, Nashville, where he covered the entertainment industry while reporting for NewsChannel 5 (WTVF), bringing the latest industry news to Tennessee through broadcast, social media, and online avenues. During his time in Nashville, Knutson covered numerous Academy events, including the ACM Awards, Academy of Country Music Honors, and ACM Lifting Lives. In his role as Manager, Knutson will support publicity and media relations efforts for the Academy of Country Music. Those responsibilities include publicity, media plans, promotional efforts, and strategies for raising awareness and coverage of the ACM Awards, ACM Party for a Cause events, ACM Lifting Lives® events and red carpets. Knutson will draft press materials and work closely with the marketing and events teams on logistics of red carpets and liaising with photographers, as well as organizational and programmatic priorities for the Academy. Knutson reports to Melissa Moldovan, Director, Communications, Media Relations & Radio.

acmcountry.com

A Nashville native and twenty-five-year veteran of the Country Music business, Kristan Pridgen recently joined the Academy, following a twelve-year stint at William Morris Endeavor having served in a number of roles at the respected talent booking agency. Pridgen has also worked at a number of esteemed entertainment companies including Capital Christian Music Group, Country Music Association, Country Music Media Group, Viacom’s CMT, and Spectra Presents. She joins the Academy of Country Music having led communications, marketing and sales efforts as well as executive assistance for several prominent music industry companies and initiatives. Boasting collaborations with some of the most acclaimed artists and performers in the format, Pridgen looks forward to helping continue the remarkable growth efforts of the Academy to expand the global reach of the brand. In her role as Executive Assistant, she will provide administrative support to the CEO, Board of Directors and Executive Team. She reports directly to CEO of the Academy, Damon Whiteside.

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Roll Call

Academy interns give their all to learn new skills

lanning a party so big that only a stadium can hold it is no easy task. That’s why every year, the Academy of Country Music®

rounds up eager college students across the country to help put on the striking show. The 57th ACM Awards are returning to Las Vegas this March, and unlike last year, the full 2022 ACM® internship class will be on-site for Country Music’s Party of the Year®. Months leading up to this grand celebration, these interns learn from the talented ACM team and are exposed to multiple facets of the music industry helping expand their knowledge of the business. Read on to learn more about each intern.

BY SALLY BISHOP

acmcountry.com

1. | Dalila Bevab

2. | Sally Bishop

MARKETING

CREATIVE & CONTENT

Dalila Bevab of Louisville is a fourth-year communications and political science major at Bellarmine University. Bevab is one of two Marketing interns at the Academy, where she spends her time brainstorming ideas for social media, updating contact grids and planning gifting ideas for performers. Bevab has kept busy throughout her college career, earning a spot in the GrammyU Mentorship program, where she learned under Crystal Dishmon, artist manager for Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Tenille Townes. She has interned at companies like Sumerian Records, RIV Music, Jonas Group Entertainment and CK Talent Management, just to name a few. Her love of Country Music all started with Carrie Underwood’s “All American Girl” music video, which she would repeatedly watch as a young girl. “It’s so funny to me now, but I would cry watching that music video, and I’m technically not even American. I was born in Bosnia,” she laughs. “But that is where it all started.” Ever since, Bevab’s been hooked on Country. Outside of work, she participates in the Student Government Association and Bellarmine Radio. As a board member for Bellarmine’s Activities Council, she oversaw planning the university’s biggest music event of the year, communicating with the group Anemic Royalty and their team to ensure all needs were met. Her internships and on-campus involvement has helped her grow professionally in the marketing, artist management, and social media fields. She hopes to one day become an artist manager at a top management company.

Sally Bishop from Cincinnati is a senior at the University of Cincinnati (UC) studying journalism. She is also in the process of earning certificates in digital broadcast news and deaf studies. Bishop serves as the Creative & Content intern for the ACM this spring. She has interned in the marketing and communications department at UC, where she coordinated content for the school’s website and social media. After two semesters there, she went on to be the features editor of her campus’ student media outlet, the News Record. There, she led a team of student journalists to ensure they were meeting deadlines, finding appropriate sources, and using correct grammar. From there, Bishop interned at Women of Cincy, a local media nonprofit focusing on the diversity that make up the city of Cincinnati. Bishop has about 100 published articles and most recently worked on a broadcasting project with her professor for Spectrum News that focused on mental health, trauma, and COVID-19. These stories were broadcasted throughout the state of Ohio. On campus, she is a peer leader, teaching classes for first-year students and is on the executive board of UC’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Bishop points to her family for raising her on Country Music. “I have the fondest memories of blaring Country Music at my family’s pool parties every summer weekend. Country always takes me back to those happy days,” she says.

3. | Anam Faruqi

4. | Ciara McKay

5. | Charlotte Meade

ACM LIFTING LIVES®

ARTIST & INDUSTRY RELATIONS

EVENTS

Anam Faruqi brings a wide range of experience to the ACM team. Coming from Orange County, Calif., Faruqi is a master’s student at the University of Southern California studying communications management. She has always been interested in working in the entertainment field, but when the pandemic hit in 2020, much like all of us, Faruqi discovered a new passion — social impact organizations. She spent her quarantine as a fund development and marketing intern at an organization called Laura’s House, a shelter for domestic violence survivors. Since then, she has worked as a public relations account coordinator for Annenberg Agency and has even dipped her toes in the accounting world. At Irvine Company, Faruqi calculated Emergency Rental Assistance for residents in over 150 apartments in Orange County and processed payments related to the COVID-19 relief funds. Faruqi thanks her father for giving her a love for Country Music. “My dad was born and raised in Pakistan and oddly enough he developed a love for Country Music while he was there. He actually showed me Taylor Swift for the first time, which I think is so funny. He is why my love for the genre has stuck around,” she says. Faruqi says this internship is a dream come true, as she gets to combine her passion for both entertainment and charity as the ACM Lifting Lives intern

Ciara McKay, originally from Spring Lake, N.J., is a junior at Northeastern University studying music with a concentration in music industry and is minoring in marketing and songwriting. McKay credits Taylor Swift for inspiring her to learn guitar and piano in middle school. “I feel like in the music industry, you’re either the creative one or the one on the business side. Honestly, being a person involved in both has helped me bridge the gap between the two and help each side understand each other,” she says. In the past year, she has completed internships at SunPop Music and 23/7 Global, which kickstarted her goal of working in the music industry. At 23/7 Global, McKay helped plan tours for artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tate McRae. When she isn’t on co-op, McKay spends her time coordinating concerts for up-and-coming artists on campus through the Council for University Programs (CUP). Along with that, she is heavily involved in her sorority and plans many social events throughout the year for her sisters to enjoy. As an Artist & Industry Relations intern, McKay assists the department in maintaining updated information on the ACM Board of Directors website and vets all criteria for the Industry Awards nominations. She is excited to learn from the professionals at the Academy to help her advance her career in the industry.

Charlotte Meade moved to Nashville to pursue her dream of “planning the biggest, best, and most fun events and parties” for artists. Coming from Powhatan, Va., a small town just outside of Richmond, Meade is a student at Belmont University studying music business. As an Events intern, Meade works with a budget and connects with potential vendors to get quotes on logistical needs for the ACM Awards. She organizes the office space and workflow of the ACM staff to make sure all health and safety measures are followed. Along with interning at the ACM, she is a fan engagement intern at Q Prime South, strategizing engaging fan interactions for artists like Ashley McBryde, Brett Eldredge and Brothers Osborne to best connect to their fans. In the past, she has interned at Third Man Records and Americanafest, a four-day music event in Nashville. There, she supervised a three-day conference for over 50 people. Outside of interning, Meade is involved in Bear House Writer Management, a Belmont organization where students team up with fellow student musicians to help promote and manage their careers. Meade credits her parents for raising her on Country Music. “I grew up in the country and I grew up on Country Music. My mom took me to my first Country concert to see Carrie Underwood when I was eight years old and I was just blown away,” she says.

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6. | Cara Siegel

3. | Michael Stern

7. | Julia Wang

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

EVENTS

MARKETING

Cara Siegel of Weston, Fla., attends the University of Michigan, where she is getting her degree in business administration with a focus in marketing and strategy. She is the Academy’s 2022 Strategic Partnerships intern, staying busy by interacting with brands and helping close deals. Her favorite Country act of all time is Zac Brown Band. Their music stuck with her so much she still remembers the first time she heard them. “I was on a flight in middle school from Florida to Michigan to visit family. On the TV in the plane, they had one of their albums. I literally listened to it over and over and just became obsessed with their music,” she says. During her time at U of M, Siegel has completed multiple internships. In the Summer of 2019, she worked as a marketing and public relations intern at United Way of Broward County. She then scored an internship with Joy Records, a record label in Israel specializing in EDM music, doing digital marketing for the company. From there, she landed an SMB global marketing operations internship with Twitter. At Twitter, she analyzed email data for evergreen campaigns, and performed a customer journey audit for the Twitter Business website. Today, she is the marketing director for Musket Musical Theater Productions in Ann Arbor and engages in Tamid Group and Digital Media Club on campus. During her not-so-busy weekends, you can find Siegel near the lakes enjoying time with friends and family.

Michael Stern, from Palm City, Fla., is thrilled to be joining ACM as an Events intern, especially after the announcement of this year’s awards show host, Dolly Parton. His love for Dolly is a huge reason why he is passionate about Country Music. “Dolly has always been at the forefront of equality, even in her generation with people who may not agree with her viewpoint. I have always admired how outspoken she is,” he says. Stern is a senior at Ithaca College getting his bachelor’s degree in theater arts management and minoring in live events and festival management. His weekends revolve around live music, always buying tickets to concerts near and far, but only recently did he decide to pursue live events as a career. When the pandemic shut down the country, he found himself missing live music, something that connects us all. He decided to pick up a minor in live events and festival management, which led him to an externship at the 2021 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tenn. As a Planet Roo Extern, Stern had many responsibilities, including coordinating groups of volunteers at the festival, collaborating with artists for arrival times, and heading communication for the event. Stern also served as the marketing manager for Ithaca’s Department of Theater Arts for more than half of his time as a college student.

Julia Wang, originally from the Bay Area, is a first-year graduate student at USC studying public relations and advertising. Wang is currently a Marketing intern at the ACM, collaborating with the team to compile screen grabs for social media, updating approved nominee photos and keeping track of social media interaction. In her undergraduate years at University of California, Santa Barbara, Wang served as the president of her school’s Communication Association. She completed internships at Partners in Education and Fest Forums, both in the event planning field. She went on to intern in the fashion realm as a public relations intern at Cabine Creative, where she secured editorial placements in magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair for her clients. Her hard work goes beyond the classroom and into the field. Wang was a student athlete on the track and field team during her undergraduate years at UCSB, earning the Golden Eagle Award in 2019 for having the highest GPA on the team. It wasn’t until her high school years when Wang developed a love for Country Music when her friend’s played her a song by Thomas Rhett. “My favorite part about Country Music is being able to share it with my friends who also love the genre. It’s a cool thing to be able to connect with people over music,” she says. Wang says she is thrilled to watch everyone’s work come to life at the 57th ACM Awards this March.

acmcountry.com

CONGRATS TO OUR ACM AWARD NOMINEES GABBY BARRETT FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

ASHLEY MCBRYDE FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

"NEVER WANTED TO BE THAT GIRL" – CARLY PEARCE AND ASHLEY MCBRYDE

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

"NEVER WANTED TO BE THAT GIRL" – CARLY PEARCE AND ASHLEY MCBRYDE

DAN + SHAY DUO OF THE YEAR

KENNY CHESNEY SONG OF THE YEAR “KNOWING YOU”

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

“HALF OF MY HOMETOWN” – KELSEA BALLERINI (FEATURING KENNY CHESNEY)

CHARLIE WORSHAM ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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LE T ’ S LI F T LIVE S

HANG OUT AT HANGOVER FEST Hangover Fest lands at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on March 6,

On Par to Rock On

opgolf Tee-Off & Rock On Presented by Canteen Spirits returns to Las Vegas! ACM Lifting Lives takes over Topgolf Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on Sunday, March 6, ahead of the 57th ACM Awards. Artists, industry members and fans come together for a day of golf skills competition and music entertainment. This year, fans can experience a live entertainment on the Aristocrat Gaming Stage headlined by three-time and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, with additional performances by Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson and more artists to be announced ahead of the event.

Join in the fun and look for more information at ACMLiftingLives.org.

benefiting ACM Lifting Lives. Grab your tickets to see Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Scotty McCreery, HARDY, Lainey Wilson, Tenille Townes, Conner Smith, Drew Baldridge, Adam Doleac, Morgan Evans, Laci Kaye Booth, Hannah Ellis and Jordan Fletcher perform from the Vegas stage, along with comedian Dusty Slay! “After spending the last two years supporting our Country Music community through this COVID pandemic, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the important work of ACM Lifting Lives than reuniting for a show in Las Vegas with fans, industry and The Morning Hangover,” says ACM Lifting Lives Executive Director, Lyndsay Cruz.

Tickets start at $35 and are available now through HouseofBlues.com/LasVegas, MandalayBay.com, ticketmaster.com or by calling 702-632-7600. You don’t want to miss this!

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LE T ’ S LI F T LIVE S

Music Mends Vanderbilt’s Music Cognition Lab Co-Director, Dr. Miriam Lense, highlights the research and valuable programs her team is working on to help uncover the benefits of using music for healing. TEMPO: Just to kick things off, I'd love to

ACM Lifting Lives® has supported the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center since 2012. Learn about the programs and research it helps fund to improve lives through the power of music. BY LIBBY GARDNER

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hear a little bit about you and your history at Vanderbilt and what you do for them. LENSE: I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. I co-direct the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab and I’m also a clinical psychologist. The work in my lab is focused on studying the music and rhythm of social engagement and how we can use music to support social and emotional well-being, with a particular emphasis on families of children with autism and other developmental disorders. TEMPO: Wow, that’s awesome. I know

you're working specifically on some research that ACM Lifting Lives has been helping to fund, so what is this music cognition research that you're doing? LENSE: We are thrilled to have support from ACM Lifting Lives as well as from a National Endowment for the Arts Research Lab grant and the National Institute of Mental Health/National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. In one of our research programs we are examining the “active ingredients” of parent-child music interventions. We find that using music games and song is a really great way to support parent-child interactions in families of young children, including parents of young children with autism. We have created programs that use music and song to teach parents evidence-based practices for supporting their social interactions together with their child. One of the things we’re doing with the ACM Lifting Lives support is looking at how we may be changing parents’ behavior through using these music and song activities.

TEMPO: Oh wow. That’s pretty awesome.

And why the music method? LENSE: One of the reasons that we use this music-based approach is because parent-child music activities are a very, very common activity to be doing in early childhood. Many children enjoy musical activities. Many children with autism enjoy musical activities, so it’s a very natural and motivating activity. We also find that when parents engage in musical activities, they naturally use types of parenting behaviors that we know can be helpful for supporting children. These are things that parents don’t necessarily even think about. For example, we tend to smile more when we sing (versus speak) to children. We tend to be very positive when we’re engaging in musical interactions. Musical interactions also provide a familiar and predictable structure to support parents and children in participating in a shared experience. The predictability of musical activities helps us know what and when something may occur so it provides a platform for coordinating with one another and for practicing different skills. We’re looking at how these types of activities are shaping parent and child behavior. TEMPO: Yeah, that sounds really neat.

Aside from the music cognition research how else has Vanderbilt been impacted by ACM Lifting Lives’ contribution? LENSE: We have also developed mindfulnessbased music and songwriting programs. Parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities often experience higher levels of stress and have increased rates of mental health difficulties. Previous research, including pioneering work done at Vanderbilt, shows how mindfulness-based practices can be helpful for stress reduction in families of children with developmental disabilities. Music is also a very powerful tool for stress reduction and emotion regulation. We’ve now created mindfulness-based music and songwriting programs in which parents learn mindfulness-based principles and apply these principles through musical activities and songwriting activities. Parents create their own personalized mindfulness songs to support them in their practice of learning, applying, and engaging with the stress reduction practices. The songs are all so beautiful. TEMPO: So those songs are just written

specifically for these families? LENSE: Yes, the parents work with a music therapist. We work with a wonderful music therapist, Kate Kelly, MT-BC, here in Nashville

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LE T ’ S LI F T LIVE S

but the study is currently conducted over telehealth so parents can be anywhere. During the program, parents learn mindfulness strategies and then they put those strategies into practice by writing songs about themselves, their child, and their relationship. So, you don’t need to be a musician to participate. In fact, many of the parents do not identify as musicians. The music therapist does a lot of the musical writing but the parents engage in mindful listening, reflection, and shape what they want their song to sound like and craft the lyrics to be meaningful and personalized to them. TEMPO: Wow, that's really special. So how long have

you been doing this research and how long has it been supported by ACM Lifting Lives? LENSE: I’ve been doing this research for a long time, and I actually returned to Vanderbilt to be part of the Music Cognition Lab here. I was a graduate student at Vanderbilt starting back in 2008. I got to interact with ACM Lifting Lives then through the Williams Syndrome Music Camp led by Dr. Elisabeth Dykens. I joined the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab in 2016. The Lab is co-directed by Dr. Reyna Gordon, who is an integrative scientist focused on neural and genetic bases of musicality. Dr. Gordon and I collaborate with each other and we also have complementary lines of research in the lab. ACM Lifting Lives has provided support in a variety of ways to Vanderbilt over the years. For these specific projects focused on music in children and families, it’s been about a year that the Music Cognition Lab has been funded in part thanks to ACM Lifting Lives. TEMPO: That’s wonderful. And in terms of the future of

music cognition research, how do you see this continuing to develop over the years. I’m assuming it will continue to grow even more and more? LENSE: Oh yes, we certainly hope so. One of the reasons that we are doing this type of work is because by understanding the behavioral and neural mechanisms of musical engagement, we can design the types of interventions that are going to be the most impactful for families. We also plan to look at the effects of the programs on families. We only want to put resources out in the community that are supportive and helpful to families. Based on our findings, we would hope to also provide resources that will be available, whether it be directly

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to families or to other providers — clinicians or therapists or early intervention providers — to support their work with families. For example, we’ve designed a psychoeducational parent-child music class program (the Serenade Program) and a Home Music Toolkit for families. TEMPO: Oh awesome. And I know you spoke a lot about

this research supporting families and children. But do you think like any research that you've been doing is also beneficial to a teenager or even an adult with autism? Have you explored any of that? LENSE: Our parent-child music research program currently is focused on families of young children. Our mindfulness-based music and songwriting program for stress reduction is for parents of children of all ages. In prior studies, we’ve looked at music processing in older children, teens, and adults with autism, as well as with Williams syndrome. For example, in one study, we saw that individuals with autism, Williams syndrome, and neurotypical development all showed greater memory for (wordless) vocal melodies compared to instrumental melodies. This may speak to the biological significance of human vocalizations and suggests a potential role for song in interventions. Another researcher at Vanderbilt, Dr. Blythe Corbett, directs the SENSE (Social Emotional NeuroScience Endocrinology) Lab and is also supported in part by ACM Lifting Lives funding. She has developed SENSE Theatre®, which combines theatrical and behavioral techniques in a peermediated, community-based intervention for children, teens, and adults with autism. TEMPO: That’s so wonderful. And just to wrap things up,

the mission of ACM Lifting Lives is improving lives through the power of music, and personally, I feel like music is very healing. I know you mentioned that music before is a common experience, but why is connecting music with the research you're doing is so beneficial? LENSE: Music is part of the human experience. We as humans are a musical species. We are driven to want to socially engage and interact and connect with others and music turns out to be a truly wonderful way to do that. Theories about the evolution of human musicality point to music potentially having an important role in bringing people together and supporting social bonding. Now more and more research is showing us from a basic science up through clinical and translational levels of investigation how music impacts the brain, the body and the mind to support health and well-being. ●

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TH E BUZ Z

Jason Aldean

Macon, Georgia

Album Releases

April 22 | BBR Music Group

Priscilla Block

Welcome To The Block Party

debut album | February 11

Danielle Bradbery

In Between: The Collection

March 4 | Big Machine Label Group

Jackson Dean Greenbroke

March 11 | Big Machine Label Group

Randall King

Shot Glass

March 18 | Warner Music Nashville

Dustin Lynch

Blue In The Sky

February 11 | ATO Records

Maddie & Tae

Through the Madness Vol. 1

January 28 | Universal Music Group Nashville

Maren Morris

Humble Quest

March 25 | Sony Music Nashville

Joe Nichols

Good Day For Living

February 11 | Quartz Hill Records

Thomas Rhett

Where We Started

April 1 | Big Machine Label Group

Sean Stemaly

Product of A Small Town

February 18 | Big Loud Records

Cole Swindell

Stereotype

April 8 | Warner Music Nashville

Hailey Whitters

Raised

March 18 | Big Loud Records

Jessica Willis Fisher Brand New Day

April 13 | Bard Craft Records

Ray Wylie Hubbard

Co-Starring Too

April 1 | Big Machine Label Group

EP Releases

February 18

Easton Corbin

“Marry That Girl” (as performed on FOX's “Joe Millionaire”)

March 3

Easton Corbin

“I Can't Decide”

April 25

Ben Gallaher

“Country, Boy”

March 25

Grant Gilbert

“She Goes Home” (Dirty Breakup Song)

March 4

Drew Green

“Good ‘Ol Man”

February 25

Filmore

“Johnny Got A Girl”

March 4 “Leave Me A Memory” “Girl Back”

March 18 “Somewhere With Beer”

George Birge

George Birge EP

February 18

March 25 “Falling Out Of Love”

April 1

Erin Kinsey

“If That Ain’t Country”

March 25

“Without Tennessee”

Conner Smith

Didn’t Go Too Far EP

January 14

Tiffany Woys

About Love EP

March 18 acmcountry.com

Nate Barnes

“Right About Me (Single Version)”

March 11

40 East EP

SingleReleases

April 8 April 15 “One Last Time”

April 22 “Mean Something”

April 29

Kat & Alex

“I Want It All”

February 25

LOCASH “Beach Boys”

(feat. Mike Love & Bruce Johnston)

March 4

Tim Montana

“Good By Me”

February 25

Taryn Papa

“Awake”

February 11

Elvie Shane

“Country Roads”

Added to Country radio February 7

Kasey Tyndall

“Jesus & Joan Jett”

February 11

TourDates

ERNEST

Opening for Chris Lane “Fill Them Boots” Tour

Feb 2 – March 19 Barefoot Country Music Fest

June 16 – June 19

Jimmie Allen

“Down Home” Tour 2022

Feb 3 – August 13

Priscilla Block

“Welcome To The Block Party” Tour

The Country Fest

June 18 Headline Shows

March 21 – March 22 Tortuga Music Festival

March 24 – April 23

April 8 – April 10

Jordan Davis

LOCASH

“Buy Dirt” Tour Feat. Tenille Arts & Hailey Whitters

“Woods & Water Tour 2022” Presented by Mountain Dew

April 8 – May 14

March 4 – September 9

Ryman Auditorium

Justin Moore

September 27 & 28

Travis Denning

Cole Swindell’s “Down the Bar” Tour

February 17 – April 3

Grant Gilbert

with Josh Abbott

February 24 – 26, March 18 – 19, March 26 Livestock Show & Rodeo

March 1 | Houston, Texas Whiskey Jam Takeover

March 7 | Nashville, Tenn. with Kolby Cooper

March 10 – 13 with Lee Brice

March 23

Dustin Lynch

“Party Mode” Tour 2022 Sean Stemaly supporting

March 17 – May 15

“Country On It” Tour

Chris Stapleton

“All-American Road Show” Feat. Elle King, Margo Price, The Marcus King Band and Yola

March 17 – September 4

Sean Stemaly

Gordy’s Hwy 30 Fest

June 23 Headline Shows

February 12 – 26 Hometown Jams Festival

June 3 Vanderburgh County Fair

July 27

Keith Urban

“The Speed of Now” Tour

February 26 – November 5

April Launch

Drake White March 30 – May 30, 2022

Taryn Papa February 8 – May 21

Hailey Whitters

Carly Pearce

“The 29 Tour”

March Launch

Thomas Rhett (+ Conner Smith)

“Bring the Bar to You” Tour

June Launch

Tyler Rich

“Two Thousand (More) Miles” Tour

March Launch

Dylan Scott

“Livin' My Best Life” Tour

February 24 – April 29

Elvie Shane

C2C Festival

March 11 – 13 Opening for Jordan Davis

April 8 “Heartland” Tour

February 10 – February 25, March 25 – March 26, April 14, April 22 – April 29, April 6 – 7 Opening for Jon Pardi

April 15 – April 16 Stagecoach Festival

May 1 Tortuga Music Festival

April 10

“My Kinda Trouble” Tour

February 17 – April 21

If you are an ACM member and would like your artists’ upcoming releases and tours featured in the next issue of ACM Tempo, please email hannahk@ acmcountry.com acmcountry.com

KING on theRISE BY LIBBY GARDNER

“Shot Glass” in hand, Randall King reminisces on his Country Music journey so far and is ready for what lies ahead. TEMPO: What’s the Randall King story? How did you get started in Country Music? KING: I started out in Lubbock, Texas at a little bar called

The Blue Light Live. That’s where I cut my teeth doing singersongwriter nights. And I went to Texas Tech for about three semesters, switched over to South Plains College and got a degree in Sound Technology so that I could learn how to produce my own records. And graduated with that degree and started hitting the road, started making music, started producing – I produced my EP Another Bullet in 2016 and then I got to produce my full-length record in Nashville in 2018. And we’ve just been kicking the door down ever since. We’ve been grinding, playing the dive bars and the honky-tonks, to opening for some guys that are selling out arenas and things. So, it’s been a hell of a ride. TEMPO: Growing up did you know you wanted to pursue Country Music? KING: You know for me it’s always been my dream. Music has

always been a part of me. I’ve been singing since I could talk... But my love for Country Music came from my father…when I was little the only time I got to spend with him was if I went in the truck with him. He’s a truck driver and he hauled hay for a living and then he worked for Walmart and he actually still works for

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Walmart…and he was home, I don’t know, two days out of the week. So, if I wanted to spend time with him, I had to go on the road and I loved it. Me and my sister, we would trade out and we got to go with him. I would ride in that passenger seat, and we’d listen to cassette tapes of Hank Sr., Hank Jr, John Anderson, Keith Whitley. And once he started figuring out that I was going to play guitar and sing, we would stop in truck stops and he’d go, “Bring your guitar.” And I’d go in there and we’d sit in the corner booth, and I’d play guitar and sing, and people would walk up and request a song and throw me a little bit of money. And I was probably nine, ten years old doing this. I remember getting up at a table and I had a stack of ones and looking like…looking like I’m getting ready to go do something bad...and we started building dreams together and he said, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” And I looked at him and I said, “Daddy, I don’t mean no offense, but I don’t want to be a truck driver.” And I actually said, “Well I just don’t want to be away from home that much so I want to be a musician.” (laughs) Little did I know that I traded out one road life for the other, but I love it. TEMPO: Were your parents musically inclined or was this something innate? KING: (laughing) Ah, no. My mom had a good singing

voice, but she yelled at us kids for so long she kind of shot herself in the foot with that. But my dad couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. My sister couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. I think a combination of my dad’s grandmother and my mom’s grandma, that’s where the talent came from. On my daddy’s side my great- grandmother wrote poetry and on my mama’s side my great-grandmother played piano and she sang. I recently actually had a memory pull up that my uncle reminded me of that my mama played clarinet, so I got a little bit from my mama. TEMPO: Well, I know you’re a songwriter, too. Where do you draw inspiration from when songwriting? KING: For me it’s every day. If you can talk it, you can

write it. You take things that you’ve witnessed and seen

and you’ve watched other people live through and you watch it, you breathe it in, you write it. TEMPO: And I know you are a Nashville resident now. KING: Well, my ID still reads Texas.

“Shot Glass” is a reflection of memories and time and…of your life when you take that shot, when you sit back. And it’s like you’re watching your life replay right there in front of you. You’re watching your memories and you’re like, “Man, how did all that fit into a shot glass.”

TEMPO: We won’t tell anyone that. But when did you make the move and how has it been compared to living in Texas? KING: I moved up to Nashville with my girlfriend in

TEMPO: You have the Opry and this album coming up, but is there anything else you’re looking forward to for the rest of 2022? KING: Man, there’s a string of shows and festivals. I

March of 2021 and for me it’s been great. I decided to make the move because I was – if I wasn’t writing two weeks of the month, I was at least up there for different things business wise. It just made sense to go ahead and just make the move. And we still bust call out of Texas, so I’m back and forth every week but yeah, Nashville is home and I love it. Everything you need is right there in the heart of the city. Everything – anything I do is just right there.

think we’re doing back-to-back nights outside Nashville at Cahoots sometime late summer. So, there’s a lot of exciting shows coming up, some that we can’t say yet because it’s not announced. Yeah, I’m excited just to be on the road playing music doing what I love. It’s going to be great. I’m ready for it. ●

TEMPO: Yes, for sure. And I know you have your Opry debut coming up. How are you feeling about that? KING: I made an extensive list but the Opry was one of

my top ones. It’s been a goal – it’s been a dream and a goal of mine since I was a little boy. And I wrote with Marty Stuart about a month ago now. I sat there and Marty started talking to me and he was like ‘Is it rolling?’ I was like okay, something is happening. I don’t know what this is. And Marty goes, ‘Man, I just want to be the first and I’m proud to be the first to invite you on March 15 to come down and play the Grand Ole Opry.’ And I’m pretty sure I told him to shut up. I was just so excited. I was like ‘Shut up!’ Oh man. So, it was one hell of a way to get invited to play the Opry. I’m excited to watch that dream come true. TEMPO: How are you preparing for that mentally and musically? KING: Music-wise I’m not worried about that. That’s easy.

The hard part for me is going to be emotionally because when I stand in that circle, I know that it will be unbroken, and I know that my sister Leanna is going to be there with me. She passed in April of 2020, and I dedicated an EP to her that I named after her and I’m going to be playing – I’m going to be playing one of those songs that I did for her. And it’s going to be a lot. It’s going to be hard…It’s going to be beautiful. TEMPO: That’s sounds incredible. I know you have an album that’s going to be released days after your Opry debut. What can we anticipate on the album? KING: Shot Glass is the record that’s coming up March 18.

We’ve dropped three songs so far. A song called “Record High” and a song called “Baby Do” and then one called “You In A Honky-Tonk.” The idea behind this album portrays a lot to what the song “Shot Glass” is about.

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New Girl on the

BLOCK Get to know ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee, Priscilla Block.

BY LIBBY GARDNER TEMPO: How did you get your start in Country Music? BLOCK: I fell in love with songwriting when I was 15 and

that’s kind of when I picked up the guitar and just found this obsession with Country Music and writing songs. So, I moved out to Nashville fresh out of high school in 2014 and did the Nashville thing. I mean, you know, working every job that you can to pay your bills each month and, you know, it’s that – that wonder if it’s going to work but you’re just you’re trying every single avenue. I mean I like made up a fake booking company to try and book myself shows – literally like the ultimate grind, me and my band did for years to just try and get people to notice. TEMPO: What have these past two years have been like for you? BLOCK: When the pandemic hit, I wasn’t able to play any

shows. My source of income completely dropped because I was playing music and I was cleaning Airbnb’s. So TikTok was the app at the time that was just everyone was on, and I had no clue that it was going to be the thing that helped launch my career. But, you know, I remember there was a night that I was like, “I’m going to use social media as my live shows. If I can’t get out to the bars and play, I’m going to make as many fans as I can through the internet.” TEMPO: It makes sense, and it definitely worked, but I feel like it’s been a whirlwind for you, so have you had any chance to think about everything that’s happened to you these past couple of years? Or has it just been chaotic? BLOCK: It’s been a little bit of both. I’m not going to lie. One

second nobody knows who I am, then the next second you have

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the industry running towards you and then that’s a whole thing in and of itself because I’ve dreamed of this, but it’s a scary thing, too. And then everything happened just so fast. I mean the day that I signed my record deal was the day my song was shipped to radio. And that’s huge. So, I’ve really tried to take moments for myself and soak in even the little things as much as I can because I know I’m going to get past this first album and be like, “Oh my gosh, I remember my first album and it was so special.” I want to really soak it in because there’s nothing like your first release or your first time doing something. TEMPO: Your album “Welcome to the Block Party” was recently released, and it’s amazing. Can you tell us a little bit about the album? BLOCK: I say that on the album you hear a little sassy, a

little trashy, and a little sad songs. This album is me as a whole. I mean truly, like anybody that knows me knows that I’m the girl either laughing all the time or crying all the time. There’s not a lot of inbetween, and I think it really shows in my music. There are songs that will have you cracking up and make you want to have your night out on the town, and then there’s these other songs that truly rip your heart out. And, you know, I think it’s just me. It’s weird because when I went in to write these songs I wasn’t necessarily writing for an album, which I think makes the songs even more special. I didn’t have any intention like, “Hey, we need to write songs for an album.” I’ve just been writing my life over the past five years, and they fall into this album, which is really, really cool.

TEMPO: Do you write new music every day or what does your songwriting process look like? BLOCK: I love to write songs. I mean that’s really where I

TEMPO: You have a tour coming up, too. What are you looking forward to about that? BLOCK: Yeah, I am going out on my first headlining

started with Country Music is writing. I think it’s important for me to continue writing as time goes on. I write stuff in my phone literally every single day, and I never want to get to the point in my artistry where I have to write for an album. I want to just continue writing about my life and hopefully it falls into a next project, but I never want the pressure of being like, “I have to write a song for my next album.”

tour, which is insane. I can’t wait. We’re going to bring this album to a live show and being a Country Music fan, I love seeing that. And I think that my goal with recording this album – I wanted people to feel like, “Holy crap, we need to get to a live show.” And I think that we really pulled that off in the production. Our live show starts exactly how the album starts. So, it’s like piecing it together. It’s really, really exciting and just getting out and meeting the fans.

TEMPO: In the time that you’ve been in the industry, has it been everything you had imagined it to be or has anything been surprising or stressful? BLOCK: Oh my gosh, all the above. Like answer D, all the

above. It’s been unbelievable. I mean the support that I’ve seen has been remarkable. I was never the girl running towards a record deal, honestly. It’s been something that kind of scared me, and I think my biggest reason for that is I never wanted anybody to change me. I never wanted to have to be something that I’m not and I think maybe because before this all happened, I felt pressures of maybe having to fit into a box. And, you know, it’s been shocking how the industry has taken me in and been like, “We love everything about you. Please don’t change.” My label is like, “Do not change and don’t let us change you.” So, it’s cool because I feel like I get to embrace who I am and that was one of my fears early, not being able to have full control in what I’m doing. It’s been awesome to see them kind of just elevate what I’m doing. TEMPO: I am so curious about your Taylor Swift encounter. Can you please tell us about this story? BLOCK: Yeah, so I’m almost eight years into Nashville now and

you know a lot of people think that I popped up overnight, of course. It always seems like that, right? But yeah, I was about a year into Nashville at the time, and I was at a point where I didn’t know what I was doing. I was an 18-year-old girl. I had no clue where to start. I had no connections. And I called my sister on the phone that day and I was like, “I think this might be it. Like I don’t really know what I’m doing out here.” Growing up, I was such a big Taylor Swift fan. I mean she was the girl in Country Music doing it, and it made me feel like I could do it. And, anyway that day I was leaving work and sure enough Taylor Swift was driving by. I happened to be wearing a Taylor Swift tour t-shirt and she saw me standing on the side of the road and pulls her car over – literally hopped across her middle console into her passenger seat and waved me down from the corner. She was like “I love your shirt so much.” It was just such a sign that I really was in the right place at the right time and I needed to give music a fair shot. So I quit my job. I quit school. And I was like I’m going to go and figure this out. If I have to. And that was seven years ago.

TEMPO: Well, you’ll be getting to meet some fans soon because you’re heading to Vegas for the ACM Awards. I know you recently received your first ever ACM Awards nomination for New Female Artist of the Year? How are you feeling about that? BLOCK: I am absolutely mind blown. I honestly feel

like I’m going to keep crying until then…and probably the entire show. Being nominated is such an honor and I will never ever forget this moment. And it’s been a dream to go, and I’ve never been before. I’ve always just watched it on TV and been that little girl dreaming about one day being there. TEMPO: Is there anyone in particular you’re excited to see at the show? BLOCK: Oh, I mean I feel like I’m going to be the most

fan girl ever because I got signed during the pandemic, so I haven’t really been able to meet a lot of artists out on the road. And now that Dolly is hosting it, I literally might faint if I see her, meet her, whatever...I’m so excited and really stoked about it all. ●

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BY LIBBY GARDNER

Dolly Parton goes to work as the 57th ACM Awards host.

“D

o your best. Don’t look back,” says the legendary Dolly Parton as she prepares for

her upcoming ACM Awards® hosting gig. Those simple words seem to be a pattern for Parton’s way of living, constantly challenging herself in both her artistry and life to be one of the best, but never taking herself too seriously. Over the course of her stardom, 13-time ACM Award winner, Parton, has stolen the hearts of many generations with her talent, iconic look, frank demeanor, and arguably most importantly, her evident love of Country Music.

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“Country Music is special to me because I'm Country, and I really think that Country Music speaks to the heart of people. It's usually about ordinary problems. And a lot of it is ordinary people doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. But I really think there is an emotion and a simplicity and an easily understood story that I think people relate to.” Parton may not appear “ordinary” in any way, yet through her music, songwriting, and loveable personality, she speaks to the masses. And even as the Country Music genre continues to evolve and grow, Parton knows that it’s in good hands and its core messages will live on. “Country Music has been changing and evolving since the very first Country song and Country singer. The only thing that will never change is the fact that it belongs to the listener. I truly believe that it will always follow the heart and soul of the songwriter. It always starts there…I am proud of all the new young artists that are coming along because you can't just stay in the same ole mode. There will always be some people like me, the oldtimers, that will always keep that part of Country Music alive. But a lot of those kids now are listening to that old music. They're not just making it up as

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they go, but they are able to put their own flavor to it and their own style. I'm just proud that Country Music is still so prominent, and that people love it so much. So that means it's gonna live forever.” Soon, Parton will celebrate the genre and its incredible artists by hosting the 57th ACM Awards, but what’s even more special is that she gets to do it alongside co-hosts and reigning New Male and Female Artists of the Year, Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett, who are artists of the future of the genre. “I think that Gabby Barrett and Jimmie Allen are two of the greater people in music right now. And the fact that I'm going to be co-hosting with them is just an extra plus for me. I'm excited about that because I love to see the new people coming up and I love to see where Country Music is now. And you always want to look at it like, ‘These are the new Country. These are the new people. Are you proud of what they stand for, how they actually handle your Country Music, which I've loved all my life.’ So, I really think that they are a great example of what the new generation of Country Music is…and I believe these rising Country artists have stories deep inside of them that they need to share, just like I still do.” And Parton, who estimates she’s written over 5000 songs, is still sharing her stories using music and now is exploring a new platform for storytelling, a novel. Her upcoming book “Run, Rose, Run” written with James Patterson is set to be released on March 7, and the album Run, Rose, Run, written in parallel with the novel, is to be released on March 4. Parton recalls when Patterson first reached out to her about writing a book together. “I thought, ‘Is this really the James Patterson?’ I said, ‘What do you need me for? You seem to be doing alright,’ and he said, ‘No, I've always thought I'd like to write a book with you.’ So he came down to Nashville and we got together and talked about it. He said, ‘I lived in Nashville for years during my college days and I always love Nashville. Why don't we write it about the music business?’... So two of the main characters are characters like my young days and then one where I am now in the business. But he started writing a lot of the story and he was sending me back some pages…And I was almost intimidated by him being such a good writer.”

From Rising Country Stars to ACM Awards Co-Hosts ACM Award winners JIMMIE ALLEN and GABBY BARRETT join the superb Dolly Parton to co-host the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards™. Allen is a three-time ACM nominated artist and reigning New Male Artist of the Year. Barrett is a four-time ACM nominated artist and reigning New Female Artist of the Year. Take a look back at their ACM journeys, from their first performances on the ACM stage, to winning New Male Artist and New Female Artist Awards!

JIMMIE ALLEN (first column): Allen poses on the red carpet of the 54th ACM Awards; Allen attends the 55th ACM Awards; Allen performs “Freedom Was A Highway” from The Bluebird Cafe; Allen arrives at the 56th ACM Awards as the ACM New Male Artist of the Year GABBY BARRETT (second column): Barrett performs “The Good Ones” from the Ryman Auditorium; Barrett attends the 55th ACM Awards; Barrett poses with the ACM trophy for her New Female Artist of the Year win; Barrett performs from The Bluebird Cafe on the 56th ACM Awards

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But Parton kept coming back to what she knew best, songwriting. “I thought, ‘You know what, I'm going to write songs for this book. I'm going to write songs about these characters and their situations.’ I started sending him songs about the characters, which he loved because he said he took all my stories and he added to the characters. And it was just a wonderful way of working. Then, every few weeks we'd get together and kind of talk it down again, and he would write something and I would get a great idea for someone. He'd have a good title that I would do. So, it just was amazing how we work together with the music and the stories like that. So we're both writers. I'm just better at music and he's better at that. But it was a great combination. You know, it really worked great for us as co-writers.” With all her successes, the most important question is ‘What can’t Parton do?’ Her legacy seems to have influenced the entire entertainment industry and arguably, the world, but surprisingly, there are many dreams she still wishes to fulfill. “I have done a lot of things in my life and there's always new dreams every day for me. So, I'm not certain exactly what all I'm going to do next, but I'll be on to the next thing after I do the Run, Rose, Run album and they would probably make that into a movie, and I'll be doing some specials for sure for TV and I'll be doing more makeup. I’ll be endorsing more products that I'll be part of, and so I don't know what all I'll do, but I'll be doing it.” And in terms of the demand her artistry has on her, she somehow still finds the energy to maintain her image and energy. “Well, I am Dolly, so no I’m never tired of being me. I do get tired by some of the demands that I have put on myself. I am human after all, and I have dreamed myself into a corner and I feel obligated to keep pushing to see those dreams come true. And when I start to feel a little low, I just pray and know that God will provide me with everything I need in the perfect time.” As she readies to take the ACM Awards stage soon, she recalls her moments in the spotlight and reminds herself that we are all human — life goes on. “I always say that I am a very professional Dolly Parton, but let’s face it, live TV is live TV, and anything can happen. One thing I have learned over the years is not to take myself too seriously. If I mess up, I’ll smile, make a joke about it, and move on. Lord, everybody knows I’m not perfect. I am blessed, and tomorrow is a brand-new day that we all get to start all over again. Do your best. Don’t look back.” ●

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5 Questions with Dolly What’s one accessory you can’t live without?

“Lord, I couldn’t do without any of this stuff. I have to put myself together, so that's not fair question because if I said lipstick, that wouldn’t be fair ’cause then I’d look awful everywhere else. So, I would say there’s more than one accessory, so that’s not a fair question and I’m not going to try to answer it.” A big anthem in this year’s ACM Awards is “This Is How We Country.” How do you “Country?”

“Well, how I Country is just about anything I do. You know it’s the way I eat, it’s the way I cook, it’s a way I sing, it’s the way I write, it’s the activities that I like to do. I’m just a Country girl and so anything I do is how I Country.” Where is your favorite place to write songs?

“I love to write, and I can write anywhere, no matter what I’m doing. If I get an idea for a song or a melody comes to me, I stop that right then, whatever it is and go write it down ’cause I know I’ll forget it.” There’s been talk that you name your wigs…is this true?

“I don’t have names for all of them, but the ones that I especially like, I’ll tag them just so Cheryl Riddle, my hairdresser, will know which ones I’m talking about. If I say, ‘I wanna ‘Twist and Shout’’ or, ‘I wanna ‘Chunky Monkey.’’ What’s so special about being Vegas?

“I have worked Vegas for years and years and years. I used to work different places there several weeks a year. I always just loved being in Vegas ’cause I got free food.”

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YOUR LAS VEGAS SURVIVAL GUIDE PARK MGM & NOMAD HOTEL

ALLEGIANT STADIUM DE

ART AN M

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ACM QUICK GUIDE INDUSTRY HOST HOTEL

TOPGOLF TEE-OFF & ROCK ON

Park MGM / Nomad Hotel

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

RADIO ROW Park MGM

Presented by Canteen Spirits

HANGOVER FEST

RED CARPET AND ACM AWARDS

Sunday, March 6

Monday, March 7

Sunday, March 6

Saturday, March 5 & Sunday, March 6

Allegiant Stadium

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LAS

BLVD

S GILE

MANDALAY BAY

House of Blues at Mandalay Bay

ICA

LA VAL

PRISCILLA BLOCK

Featuring “Just About Over You,” “Wish You Were The Whiskey” and “My Bar” “With her layered necklaces, colorful scrunchies, and plainspoken, relatable lyrics, Block is the best friend country music fans wish they had. She’s vulnerable, funny and fierce with a story to tell” —People “Block delivers lyrics that are not only openly honest, but also full of confidence and self-certainty” —The Boot

PRISCILL ABLOCK.COM acmcountry.com

FAST FACTS FAST FACT

FAST FACT

This year’s leading nominee is CHRIS YOUNG with seven ACM Awards® nominations, including artist and producer nods for Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year. Additionally, Young received a nod for Video of the Year for “Famous Friends,” bringing his lifetime total to 18 ACM Award nominations.

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FAST FACT

MIRANDA LAMBERT, the FAST FACT

WALKER HAYES receives five nominations including New Male Artist of the Year, as well as four nods for “Fancy Like,” including artist and producer nods for Single of the Year and artist and songwriter nods for Song of the Year.

most nominated artist in ACM Awards history, receives five nominations, including her sixth nod for Entertainer of the Year. Lambert receives record-tying 16th Female Artist of the Year nomination (tied with Reba McEntire), as well as four other nominations.

The Academy continues its legacy of being the first to recognize artists early in their careers, with 35% of this year’s nominees being first-time nominees overall, or first-time nominees in their respective categories.

FAST FACT

ACM Awards nominees include

AT LEAST ONE FEMALE NOMINATED in FAST FACT

LUKE COMBS, MIRANDA LAMBERT, and CHRIS STAPLETON are all nominees for Entertainer of the Year. A win for any one of them in that category will also clinch the coveted TRIPLE CROWN AWARD, which consists of an Entertainer of the Year win, plus wins in an act's respective New Artist (male, female, or duo or group) and Artist (male, female, duo or group) categories.

every non-gender specific category. Overall, female representation continues to rise in comparison to the average of the past five years.

THIS YEAR’S NOMINEE PULL for artists in main category awards is

37% FEMALE

FAST FACT

Nominations include three members of the LGBTQ+ community. TJ OSBORNE of BROTHERS OSBORNE receives a nomination for Duo of the Year, LILY ROSE receives a nomination for New Female Artist of the Year, and SHANE MCANALLY receives four nominations.

compared to an average of 35% in the past five years. Additionally, FOUR OUT OF FIVE of the nominees for Music Event of the Year include females in the collaborations and 50% of the producers and directors for Video of the Year are female.

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NOMINEES ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

ERIC CHURCH

LUKE COMBS

MIRANDA LAMBERT

CHRIS STAPLETON

CARRIE UNDERWOOD

ASHLEY McBRYDE

MAREN MORRIS

CARLY PEARCE

THOMAS RHETT

CHRIS STAPLETON

MORGAN WALLEN

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

GABBY BARRETT

MIRANDA LAMBERT

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

JIMMIE ALLEN 42

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LUKE COMBS

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DUO OF THE YEAR

BROOKS & DUNN

BROTHERS OSBORNE

DAN + SHAY

LOCASH

MADDIE & TAE

MIDLAND

OLD DOMINION

THE CADILLAC THREE

LILY ROSE

CAITLYN SMITH

LAINEY WILSON

RYAN HURD

PARKER McCOLLUM

ELVIE SHANE

GROUP OF THE YEAR

LADY A

LITTLE BIG TOWN

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

TENILLE ARTS

PRISCILLA BLOCK

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

HARDY 44

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WALKER HAYES

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ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)

29: WRITTEN IN STONE

CARLY PEARCE

Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Jimmy Robbins, Tony Brown PRODUCERS:

RECORD LABEL: Big

Records

Machine

COUNTRY AGAIN: SIDE A

THOMAS RHETT

PRODUCERS: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Matt Dragstrem

Big Machine Label Group RECORD LABEL:

DANGEROUS: THE DOUBLE ALBUM

MORGAN WALLEN

PRODUCERS: Joey Moi, Jacob Durrett, Charlie Handsome, Matt Dragstrem, Dave Cohen

FAMOUS FRIENDS

CHRIS YOUNG

Mark Holman, Corey Crowder, Chris Young, Chris DeStefano PRODUCERS:

RECORD LABEL:

Nashville

RCA Records

RECORD LABEL: Big Loud Records / Republic Records

THE MARFA TAPES

JACK INGRAM, MIRANDA LAMBERT, JON RANDALL

PRODUCERS: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall RECORD LABEL: Vanner Records / RCA Records Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)

“BUY DIRT”

JORDAN DAVIS FEATURING LUKE BRYAN

PRODUCER: Paul RECORD LABEL:

DiGiovanni

MCA Nashville

“FAMOUS FRIENDS”

CHRIS YOUNG AND KANE BROWN

Corey Crowder, Chris Young PRODUCERS:

RECORD LABEL:

Nashville

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RCA Records

“FANCY LIKE”

WALKER HAYES

Walker Hayes, Shane McAnally, Joe Thibodeau PRODUCERS:

RECORD LABEL:

Records

Monument

“IF I DIDN’T LOVE YOU”

JASON ALDEAN AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD PRODUCERS: Michael

Knox

RECORD LABELS: Broken Bow Records; Macon Music, LLC; BBR Music Group, BMG

“YOU SHOULD PROBABLY LEAVE”

CHRIS STAPLETON

Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton PRODUCERS:

RECORD LABEL:

Nashville

Mercury

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SONG OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)

“7 SUMMERS”

MORGAN WALLEN

Morgan Wallen, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally SONGWRITERS:

PUBLISHERS: Big Loud Mountain, Bo Wallace Publishing, Smackborne Music, Sony/ATV Accent, Smackstreet Music, Tempo Investments, Warner Geo Met Ric Music

“BUY DIRT”

JORDAN DAVIS FEATURING LUKE BRYAN

SONGWRITERS: Jordan

Davis, Jacob Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins PUBLISHERS: Anthem Music Publishing II, Bentprop Pub, Big Blue Nation Music, Combustion Five, Jentown, Jordan Davis Music, Smackwork Music, Smack Blue, Kobalt Music Group Music, Universal Music Corporation, WC Music Corp

“FANCY LIKE”

WALKER HAYES

SONGWRITERS: Cameron

Bartolini, Josh Jenkins, Shane Stevens, Walker Hayes PUBLISHERS: Songs of SMACK, Rarespark Media Group, Smackworks Music, Smack Blue, Kobalt Music Group, Holy Graffiti Music, Purplebeatz, WC Music Corp

“KNOWING YOU”

KENNY CHESNEY

Adam James, Brett James, Kat Higgins SONGWRITERS: PUBLISHERS: 3

Ring Circus, BMG Platinum Songs, Pompano Run Music, Songs of Brett, WC Music Corp

“THINGS A MAN OUGHTA KNOW”

LAINEY WILSON

SONGWRITERS: Jason

Nix, Jonathan Singleton, Lainey Wilson PUBLISHERS: Sony/ATV Accent, Sony/ATV Countryside, Spirit Two Nashville, Super Big Music

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)

“DRUNK (AND I DON’T WANNA GO HOME)”

ELLE KING AND MIRANDA LAMBERT

PRODUCERS: Lora Criner, Angie Lorenz, Wes Edwards, James Stratakis DIRECTORS: Alexa Kinigopoulos, Stephen Kinigopoulos

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“FAMOUS FRIENDS”

CHRIS YOUNG AND KANE BROWN PRODUCER: DIRECTOR:

Jennifer Ansell

Peter Zavadil

“I BET YOU THINK ABOUT ME (TAYLOR’S VERSION)”

TAYLOR SWIFT FEATURING CHRIS STAPLETON

Jil Hardin, Blake Lively, Kathy Palmer, Austin Swift PRODUCERS:

DIRECTOR: Blake

Lively

“IF I DIDN’T LOVE YOU”

JASON ALDEAN AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD PRODUCERS: Christen

Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry DIRECTOR:

Shaun Silva

“NEVER WANTED TO BE THAT GIRL”

CARLY PEARCE AND ASHLEY McBRYDE PRODUCER:

Ryan Byrd

DIRECTOR: Alexa

Campbell

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SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR* *(Off Camera Award)

JESSE FRASURE

NICOLLE GALYON

ASHLEY GORLEY

HARDY

JOSH OSBORNE

“HALF OF MY HOMETOWN”

“IF I DIDN’T LOVE YOU”

“NEVER WANTED TO BE THAT GIRL”

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)

“BUY DIRT”

JORDAN DAVIS FEATURING LUKE BRYAN

PRODUCER: Paul RECORD LABEL:

DiGiovanni

MCA Nashville

“FAMOUS FRIENDS”

CHRIS YOUNG AND KANE BROWN PRODUCERS: Corey

Crowder,

RECORD LABEL: RCA

Records

Chris Young Nashville

KELSEA BALLERINI FEATURING KENNY CHESNEY

PRODUCERS: Ross Copperman, Jimmy Robbins, Kelsea Ballerini RECORD LABEL: Black River Entertainment

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JASON ALDEAN AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD PRODUCER:

Michael Knox

RECORD LABEL: Broken Bow Records; Macon Music, LLC; BBR Music Group, BMG

CARLY PEARCE AND ASHLEY McBRYDE

PRODUCERS: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne RECORD LABEL: Big Machine Label Group, Warner Music Nashville

E R I N

M A T T

K I N S E Y

NEW MUSIC COMING SOON

“JUST DRIVE” IMPACTING 3/7 DEBUT EP OUT 3/25

K E L S E A

S T E L L

B A L L E R I N I

CMT ARTIST OF THE YEAR

3 BILLION STREAMS TO DATE

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NOMINEES ACM RADIO AWARDS NATIONAL DAILY ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Buzz Brainard and Ania Hammar The Music Row Happy Hour with Buzz Brainard Cody Alan CMT After MidNite Derek Haskins, Sean Powell, Patrick Thomas, Carsen Humphreville The Big D & Bubba Show Jerry Broadway, Tim Wall, Mitch English, Becca Walls The Bud And Broadway Show Katie Neal Katie & Company

NATIONAL WEEKLY ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Bryan “B-Dub” Washington B-Dub Radio Lon Helton Country Countdown USA Michael Knox, Shalacy Griffin Knox Country 360 Terri Clark Country Gold Tracy Lawrence, Patrick Thomas Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

Danny Dwyer KUPL-FM (Portland, OR)

(6 final nominees due to tie)

KSCS-FM – Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

(Major Market)

Josh, Rachael & Grunwald In the Morning Josh Holleman, Rachael Hunter, Steve Grunwald WYCD-FM (Detroit, MI) Paul Schadt, Sarah Lee & Geof Knight WKKT-FM (Charlotte, NC) Scotty Kay WUSN-FM (Chicago, IL)

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Julie and DJ in the Morning Julie Kansy, Dale Sellers WPCV-FM (Lakeland, FL) Kenn McCloud KUZZ AM/FM (Bakersfield, CA) Mo & StyckMan Melissa “Mo” Wagner, Greg “StyckMan” Owens WUSY-FM (Chattanooga, TN)

(Major Market)

KSON-FM – San Diego, CA KYGO-FM – Denver, CO WXTU-FM – Philadelphia, PA WYCD-FM – Detroit, MI

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (Large Market)

Tracy Dixon KYGO-FM (Denver, CO)

New Country Mornings with Nancy and Woody Nancy Wilson, Aaron Woods WHKO-FM (Dayton, OH)

KNCI-FM – Sacramento, CA

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Scott & Sarah in the Morning Scott Wynn, Sarah Kay WQMX-FM (Akron, OH)

WFMS-FM – Indianapolis, IN

The Big Dave Show ‘Big Dave’ Chandler Chelsie Shinkle, Jason Statt and Ashley Dawn WUBE-FM (Cincinnati, OH)

Steve Lundy & Gina Melton KXKT-FM (Omaha, NE)

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

Jim, Deb, and Kevin in the Morning Jim Denny, Deborah Honeycutt, Kevin Freeman WFMS-FM (Indianapolis, IN)

(Small Market)

KXKT-FM – Omaha, NE

Adam & Jen in the Morning Adam Lamberd, Jen Little KIOK-FM (Kennewick, WA)

WGKX -FM – Memphis, TN

(Large Market)

The Wake Up Call Kelli Green, David Bugenske KFRG-FM (Riverside/San Bernardino, CA) Wake Up With The Wolf Show Dale O’Brian, Annie Camp, Chase Matthews WPAW-FM (Greensboro, NC) Wayne D Show Wayne Danielson, Tay Hamilton WSIX-FM (Nashville, TN)

(Medium Market)

ON-AIR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Liz and Scotty in the Morning Liz DelGrosso and Scotty Cox KCLR-FM (Columbia, MO) Morning Wake-Up Call With Dave Daniels Dave Daniels KHAY-FM (Ventura, CA) The Cat Pak Morning Show Brent Lane WYCT-FM (Pensacola, FL) The Philip Gibbons Show Philip Gibbons WGSQ-FM (Cookeville, TN)

KSOP-FM – Salt Lake City, UT KUBL-FM – Salt Lake City, UT WUBE-FM – Cincinnati, OH

(Medium Market)

KIZN-FM – Boise City-Nampa, ID

WHKO-FM – Dayton, OH WUSY-FM – Chattanooga, TN

RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR (Small Market)

KCLR-FM – Columbia, MO KHAY-FM – Ventura, CA WXBQ-FM – Bristol, VA WXFL-FM – Florence, AL WYCT-FM – Pensacola, FL

INDUSTRY AWARDS CASINO OF THE YEAR – THEATER

THEATER OF THE YEAR

Choctaw Casino Durant, OK

Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center Cincinnati, OH

Deadwood Mountain Grand Deadwood, SD

Blue Gate Performing Arts Center Shipshewana, IN

Resorts World Las Vegas, NV

Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL

Soaring Eagle Casino Mt. Pleasant, MI

Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN

CASINO OF THE YEAR – ARENA

OUTDOOR VENUE OF THE YEAR

Laughlin Event Center Laughlin, NV

Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO

Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT

Saint Augustine Amphitheatre St. Augustine, FL

Mystic Lake Casino Prior Lake, MN

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR

Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage, CA

Hard Rock (Live at Etess Arena) Atlantic City, NJ

Carolina Country Music Fest Myrtle Beach, SC Country Thunder Florence, AZ Faster Horses Festival Brooklyn, MI

American Music Theatre Lancaster, PA

STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Mark Hill

Paul Franklin

Viktor Krauss

Josh Matheny

Jimmie Lee Sloas

Mickey Raphael

The Wharf Amphitheater Orange Beach, AL

Glenn Worf

Kristin Wilkinson

Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels, TX

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Fred Eltringham

Dan Dugmore

Evan Hutchings

Jedd Hughes

Derek Mixon

Rob McNelley

Jerry Roe

Derek Wells

Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion Gilford, NH

ARENA OF THE YEAR BOK Center Tulsa, OK

Bridgestone Arena Nashville, TN

J.T. Cure

Chad Cromwell

Tortuga Music Festival Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Dickies Arena Fort Worth, TX

Nir Z

Windy City Smokeout Festival Chicago, IL

Ford Center Evansville, IN

FAIR/RODEO OF THE YEAR

Rupp Arena Lexington, KY

ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Auburn Rodeo Auburn, AL

California Mid-State Fair Paso Robles, CA Cheyenne Frontier Days Cheyenne, WY Minnesota State Fair St. Paul, MN San Antonio Rodeo San Antonio, TX

CLUB OF THE YEAR

DON ROMEO BUYER OF THE YEAR Brent Fedrizzi

Michelle Romeo RJ Romeo Shawn Radley Todd Boltin

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR Aaron Spalding Adam Weiser

Basement East Nashville, TN

Bradley Jordan

Billy Bob’s Fort Worth, TX

Ed Warm

Brian O'Connell

Stuart Duncan

Tom Bukovac

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR Brandon Bell

Dave Cobb

Jim Cooley

Todd Lombardo

Gena Johnson

Bryan Sutton

Jason Hall

Ilya Toshinskiy

Vance Powell

Charlie Worsham

PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Buddy Cannon Dave Cobb

David Dorn

Ian Fitchuk

Charlie Judge

Dann Huff

Billy Justineau

Joey Moi

Gordon Mote Benmont Tench

Cain's Ballroom Tulsa, OK Coca-Cola Roxy Atlanta, GA Georgia Theatre Athens, GA

acmcountry.com

I N M E M O RY

Jerry Crutchfield

Dan Einstein

Ralph Emery

1935–2022

1961–2022

1934–2022

Jerry Crutchfield, admired for

Dan Einstein, a co-founder of Oh

Ralph Emery, known as the dean

decades in Nashville as a label

Boy Records, died on January 15,

of Country Music broadcasters,

executive, producer and publisher,

2022. He was 61.

died January 15, 2022. He was 88.

died on January 11, 2022. He was 87.

With revered songwriter John

Born in Paducah, Kentucky,

Prine and artist manager Al Bunetta,

McEwen, Tennessee, Emery began

Crutchfield entered the industry

Einstein helped launch Oh Boy in

his career stepping into the radio

first as a singer in The Escorts. In

1981. A Connecticut native, Einstein

booth at various local radio stations

the 1960s, working and writing for

moved to Los Angeles in 1978. After

before receiving his big break as the

Tree Publishing, he placed cuts with

dropping out of UCLA, he joined

late-night disc jockey on Nashville’s

Bobby Bare, Brenda Lee, Connie

Al Bunetta Management. There,

WSM station. As the years went on,

Smith and others. His extensive

he established songwriter Steve

Emery’s voice was further amplified

production credits include Barbara

Goodman’s label, Red Pajamas

thanks to television, as he served as

Fairchild’s “Teddy Bear Song,” Lee

Records and soon thereafter helped

the host of shows such as Pop! Goes

Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”

launch Oh Boy Records, John Prine’s

the Country, Nashville Now and Ralph

and Dave Loggins’ “Please Come to

label. Einstein served as executive

Emery Live, ultimately making him

Boston.” Crutchfield also launched

producer for Tribute to Steve Goodman,

one of the most famous TV and radio

MCA Records’ publishing division

a 1986 Grammy Award winner for

personalities in Country Music.

and served in an executive role at

Best Contemporary Folk Album.

Capitol/Liberty Records from 1989 to

He also produced Prine’s 1988 Live

Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007

1992. A longtime producer for Tanya

album and numerous compilations.

and three years later, inducted into

Tucker, he earned an ACM Award

Einstein moved to Nashville in the

the National Radio Hall of Fame.

in 1992 when “Two Sparrows in a

early 1990s and joined the Leadership

Emery also documented his career

Hurricane” was named Video of the

Music Class of 1996. He left the music

in a series of books such as which

Year. —CRAIG SHELBURNE

business in 2004 to open Sweet 16th

ultimately landed him on the New

Bakery in East Nashville with his

York Times bestseller list many times

wife, Ellen. —CRAIG SHELBURNE

over. —TRICIA DESPRES

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Born on March 10, 1933, in

Emery was inducted into the

Dallas Frazier

Jerry Ray Johnston

Chick Rains

1940–2022

1957–2022

1939–2022

Dallas Frazier, who wrote

Jerry Ray Johnston, a former

Chick Rains, one of Nashville’s

a crossover smash about the

staff drummer at the Grand Ole

top songwriters of the 1980s and

irresistible “Elvira,” died on January

Opry, died on January 9, 2022. He

1990s, died on January 21, 2022. He

14, 2022. He was 82.

was 65.

was 83.

Raised in Bakersfield, California,

Born in Monroe, Louisiana,

Born in Oklahoma, Rains nurtured

Frazier established his entertainment

Johnston, the father of The Cadillac

an interest in writing and poetry

career on the West Coast as a

Three frontman Jaren Johnston,

after serving in Vietnam. The duo

teenager by recording for Capitol

moved to Nashville at 24 to pursue a

he formed in Los Angeles with Greg

Records and appearing on the TV

music career. In the 1980s, he signed

Harris, called Rains & Harris, made an

show Hometown Jamboree. His

with Warner Bros. as a member of

album for RCA with producer Jim Ed

songwriting career launched in

the band Bandana. Between 1982 and

Norman in 1977. Norman then pitched

1960 with the Hollywood Argyles’

1986, Bandana charted 10 singles for

Johnny Lee on recording Rains’ “One

pop hit, “Alley Oop.” The Oak Ridge

the label, including “The Killin’ Kind”

in a Million,” a No. 1 hit in 1980. Other

Boys’ recording of “Elvira” earned a

(No. 17, 1982) and “Outside Lookin’

chart-topping credits include Mickey

1981 ACM Award for Single Record

In” (No. 18, 1983). Johnston ended his

Gilley’s “A Headache Tomorrow (Or

of the Year. Frazier’s exceptional

time in the Grand Ole Opry staff band

a Heartache Tonight),” Wade Hayes’

catalog also includes Jack Greene’s

in 2003. He also played drums at his

“Old Enough to Know Better” and

“There Goes My Everything,”

church in a group called The Little

Reba McEntire’s “Somebody Should

Emmylou Harris’ “Beneath Still

Band That Could. —CRAIG SHELBURNE

Leave.” Brooks & Dunn recorded

Waters,” George Jones’ “If My Heart

Rains’ “Cheating on the Blues” on

Had Windows,” Tanya Tucker’s

Brand New Man, the 1992 ACM Album

“What’s Your Mama’s Name” and

of the Year. —CRAIG SHELBURNE

Gene Watson’s “Fourteen Carat Mind.” Frazier was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1976. —CRAIG SHELBURNE

acmcountry.com

I N M E M O RY

Hargus “Pig” Robbins 1938–2022 Hargus “Pig” Robbins, the Nashville session pianist whose career stretched decades, died on January 30, 2022. He was 84.

I M P R OV I N G

LIVES THROUGH THE

POWE R

MUSIC

Born in Rhea County, Tennessee, Robbins was blinded in a knife accident at age 3. Although classically trained as a child, he absorbed the playing styles of Ray Charles, Floyd Cramer and others. After playing on George Jones’ 1959 hit, “White Lightning,” he established himself among Nashville’s A-Team of session musicians. Alongside credits ranging from Patsy Cline to Miranda Lambert, Robbins also appeared on Bob Dylan’s 1966 album, Blonde on Blonde, and earned a Grammy for his own 1977 album, Country Instrumentalist of the Year. Robbins received eight ACM Awards as a keyboard player. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012. —CRAIG SHELBURNE

W W W. ACMLIF TING LIVES .ORG

acmcountry.com

TH E ACM LI F TI N G LIVES COVI D -19 RESP O NSE FU N D IS N OW O PEN

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE COUNTRY MUSIC COMMUNITY VISIT ACMLIFTINGLIVES.ORG

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ACM M O M E NT

Powerhouse Tribute 35th Academy of Country Music Awards Universal Amphitheatre | May 3, 2000 Martina McBride, Patty Loveless, Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd and Naomi Judd perform “Stand By Your Man” at the 35th ACM Awards, a tribute to 1999 Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award winner, Tammy Wynette.

acmcountry.com

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