Performers have been announced for the Platform Stage inside Nissan Stadium, including Emily Ann Roberts, The Jack Wharff Band, Kaitlin Butts, Kat Luna, Laci Kaye Booth, Maggie Antone, Scoot Teasley, Vincent Mason, Willow Avalon and Zach John King. Clay Walker, Jo Dee Messina, Rhett Akins and Sara Evans are also set to open the nightly stadium shows, with Caylee Hammack kicking things off Thursday evening with the national anthem.

Over at the riverfront, Brandon Lake will lead a powerful Sunday morning “Cowboy Church” at the Chevy Riverfront Stage. Festival festivities begin Thursday with CeCe performing the national anthem at the same stage.

More artists are joining the daytime lineup as well, with Filmore, Gabriella Rose and Nappy Roots set for the Dr Pepper Amp Stage, while MŌRIAH and Love and Theft will take to the Chevy Vibes Stage. The Wrangler Remix Stage will also bring the energy all weekend long with Omer Netzer and MORGXN added to the bill.

Additional information and ticket options for the nightly stadium concerts, as well as various packages, can be found at cmafest.com/tickets.

The post CMA Fest Presented By SoFi Expands Lineup With Additional Artists Revealed appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

“I’m thrilled to be hosting the 61st ACM Awards in Las Vegas, a place that feels like home.” said Twain. “It’s such an honor to be part of this incredible night celebrating Country Music’s biggest stars, especially with so many talented women leading nominations this year. I can’t wait to welcome all of the fans and artists out for this unforgettable night.”

“We are honored to welcome global music superstar Shania Twain as our host this year,” ACM CEO Damon Whiteside said. “We couldn’t imagine a more perfect icon to follow our previous iconic hosts, Dolly, Garth, and Reba, blending one of the most important nights in Country Music with the excitement of Las Vegas . Shania has an impressive history on the ACM Awards stage including her win of the coveted ACM Entertainer of the Year trophy and receiving the ACM Poet’s Award honoring her prolific songwriting career.”

The 61st ACM Awards is set to be an exciting evening. Performers and Nominees have been revealed, and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ahead of the awards on Sunday, fans can join Riley Green & Friends at Topgolf for the ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green on Friday, May 15, and on Saturday, May 16, catch some waves at the ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash event. Tickets for both of these events, as well as the 61st ACM Awards are available at AXS.com.

The post Shania Twain Announced as Host for the 61st ACM Awards appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

Don’t miss the latest episode. Stream it now on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.

Have a suggestion or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know! Email us at cmr@countrymusicrocks.net.

Stay in the know with all things country and more. Tune in each week for a brand-new episode. Subscribe and watch on YouTube HERE, and listen on your favorite podcast platform HERE.

The post 61st ACM Awards Breakdown: Biggest Snubs, Surprises & More appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

Women in country music are leading the nominations this year. Megan Moroney tops the list with nine nominations, followed by fellow artists Miranda Lambert with eight. Both Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley earned seven nominations each, while Chris Stapleton follows with six. Zac Top received five nominations, and Cody Johnson rounds out the list with four nominations.

Additionally, there are several first-time nominees that are up for an ACM award, marking an exciting moment for these artists and their teams. Those receiving their first ACM Award nomination include 49 Winchester, Avery Anna, Mackenzie Carpenter, Carter Faith, Caroline Jones, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Thelma & James (*MacKenzie Porter was previously nominated for Music Event of the Year in 2022 with Dustin Lynch), along with Hudson Westbrook and Stephen Wilson Jr.

The full list of nominees is below. It’s shaping up to be an exciting night in Vegas on May 17 as the winners are revealed. Tickets for the 61st ACM Awards, as well as events leading up to the big night, are available now on AXS.com.

Nominees for the 61st ACM Awards:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Jelly Roll
Cody Johnson
Megan Moroney
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Lainey Wilson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Cody Johnson
Chris Stapleton
Zach Top

GROUP OF THE YEAR
49 Winchester
Flatland Cavalry
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays

DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
Thelma & James

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Avery Anna
Mackenzie Carpenter
Dasha
Caroline Jones
Emily Ann Roberts

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gavin Adcock
Vincent Mason
Shaboozey
Hudson Westbrook
Tucker Wetmore

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Charlie Handsome
Chase McGill
Blake Pendergrass

ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Riley Green
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Morgan Wallen

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Record Company-Label: Leo33

Cherry Valley – Carter Faith
Producer: Tofer Brown
Record Company-Label: Gatsby Records / MCA

Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe) – Riley Green
Producer: Dann Huff, Michael Knox
Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

I’m The Problem – Morgan Wallen
Producers: Joey Moi, Charlie Handsome, Jacob Durrett
Record Company-Label: Big Loud Records

Parker McCollum – Parker McCollum
Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse
Record Company-Label: MCA

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
Songwriters: Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure
Publishers: I Wrote These Songs; Pink Dog Publishing; Songs for the Munch Music; Songs of Influence; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

Am I Okay? – Megan Moroney
Songwriters: Megan Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon
Publishers: Big Ass Pile of Dimes Music; Big Music Machine

Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Songwriters: Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
Publishers: Bada Bing & Bada Langley Publishing; Little Louder Songs; Sony Music Publishing

I Never Lie – Zach Top
Songwriters: Zach Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols
Publishers: Music and Magazine Publishing; Rio Bravo Music Inc; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Too Broke to Quit Music; Zach Top Music

Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Lainey Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg
Publishers: Concord Sounds; Dtown Boogie Music; Emi Feist Catalog Inc; Songs Of Riser House; Songs Of Wild Cat Well Music; Sony/ATV Countryside; Story Farmer; Tacklebox Music Publishing

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

6 Months Later – Megan Moroney
Producers: Kristian Bush
Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

Choosin’ Texas – Ella Langley
Producers: Ella Langley, Miranda Lambert, Ben West
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

I Never Lie – Zach Top
Producers: Carson Chamberlain
Record Company-Label: Leo33

Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
Producers: Jay Joyce
Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Broken Bow Records

The Fall – Cody Johnson
Producers: Trent Willmon
Record Company-Label: CoJo Music / Warner Records Nashville

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]

A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb
Record Company-Label: Republic Records

Amen – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
Producers: Danny Majic, Nevin Sastry, Sean Cook
Record Company-Label: Empire

Don’t Mind If I Do – Riley Green feat. Ella Langley
Producers: Dann Huff, Michael Knox
Record Company-Label: Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment

Trailblazer – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
Producers: Tony Brown, Reba McEntire
Record Company-Label: MCA

You Had To Be There – Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney
Producers: Kristian Bush
Record Company-Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
6 Months Later – Megan Moroney
Producers: Christen Pinkston & Wesley Stebbins-Perry
Director: CeCe Dawson, Megan Moroney

A Song To Sing – Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
Producers: James Stratakis
Director: Alexa King Stone, Stephen Kinigopoulos

Cuckoo -Stephen Wilson, Jr.
Producers: Tim Cofield
Director: Tim Cofield

Somewhere Over Laredo – Lainey Wilson
Producers: Katie Babbage
Director: TK McKamy

The Fall – Cody Johnson
Producers: Christen Pinkston & Wesley Stebbins-Perry
Director: Dustin Haney

The post 61st ACM Awards Nominees Revealed: Women Lead 2026 Nominations appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

The festival is set to blend live country music with a luxury vacation vibe at one of Mexico’s top beach vacation destinations.  Paradisus Los Cabos will serve as the host resort and festival grounds, with additional accommodations and festival access available at Las Ventanas al Paraíso, Montage Los Cabos, Dreams Los Cabos, Marquis Los Cabos and Hilton Los Cabos.

Resort package options include a three night bundled stay for the event with festival passes included, as well as additional perks. Standalone “Splash Passes” will also be available in a limited quantity which will provide access to performances, pool parties and festival activations.

“Country Splash was designed to bring the energy of a world-class country music festival into one of the most beautiful beach destinations in the world,” said Robert Fried, co-founder of Country Splash. “The guest experience will be at the core of everything, where fans can see their favorite artists up close, just steps from the ocean while enjoying the amenities of luxury travel from the best of Cabo’s resorts, dining and outdoor adventures.”

Throughout the holiday weekend, fans can take part in a range of experiences during the Country Splash music festival, including daytime pool party DJ sets, sunset acoustic performances, an experiential village with brand activations, and a swimmable beach area with on-site safety staff.

Country Splash is shaping up to be a unique festival getaway that blends live music & travel at an elevated level for an ultimate fan experience

A pre-sale will go live on Tuesday, April 14 at 10:00 am PT for Hotel and Villa Packages, as well as a limited number of Splash Passes, at CountrySplash.com. Official on-sale date follows on on Wednesday, April 15 at 10:00 am PT at CountrySplash.com.

The post Country Splash Festival to Debut in Cabo with Riley Green, Jon Pardi, Tucker Wetmore & More appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

The 61st ACM Awards will take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 17. The show will stream live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET. / 5 p.m. PT. Fans can also watch the broadcast on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, as well as within the Amazon Music app.

Tickets for the 61st ACM Awards and ACM Awards week events, such as “ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends” on Friday, May 15 and “ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash” on Saturday, May 16 are available now at AXS.com.

The post Additional Performers Added to the 61st ACM Awards Lineup appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

Dan + Shay are back, and their return comes with their most personal work to date in new single, “Say So.” The track shines a light on mental health awareness and the importance of community support, as the duo delivers a powerful and timely message. “Say So” is available now HERE.

Written by Dan Smyers, Shay Mooney, Jimmy Robbins, and David Hodges, “Say So” comes from a deeply personal place following the sudden loss of someone close to the duo.

“‘Say So’ is a reminder that no matter what you are going through, you don’t have to go through it alone,” the duo shared. “We wrote this song from a very personal place and could not be prouder to stand behind the message.”

In addition to the poignant new single, the 3x GRAMMY® Award-winning duo also unveiled a powerful music video directed by Smyers, bringing the track’s message to life in a deeply moving way.

“Say So” marks the first new release from Dan + Shay, with more on the way this year.

The post Dan + Shay Return With Emotional New Single “Say So” appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

As previously announced, ACM Lifting Lives was host an event at Topgolf Las Vegas on Friday, May 15 with Riley Green and Friends. Now we know the friends joining him! Lauren Alaina, Rodney Atkins, and Randy Houser will join headliner Riley Green for the ACM Lifting Lives Country on the Green: Riley Green & Friends. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com, with proceeds benefiting ACM Lifting Lives.

On Saturday, May 16, ACM Next Wave: Country’s Beach Bash hits Mandalay Bay Beach with a stacked lineup including Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Flatland Cavalry, Braxton Keith, Tucker Wetmore, Willow Avalon, Graham Barham, Tyler Braden, Alexandra Kay, Vincent Mason, Emily Ann Roberts, and Hudson Westbrook. Ashley Cook and Dasha will also serve as hosts, making this a can’t miss party! Tickets are available now at AXS.com.

As we get closer to the big weekend ahead in Vegas for the 61st ACM Awards, expect even more announcements and details to roll out soon.

The post New Performers Announced for 61st ACM Awards Week Events in Las Vegas appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

In this episode, we’re diving into country artists that can really hold their own on the course, who we’d pick for our dream golf partner, and Danny shares a great story about the time he hit the links with Vince Gill.

We’re also sharing details from Julia’s recent trip to LA with Raising Cane’s to celebrate the opening of their 1,000th restaurant. It’s quite the story hearing about Raising Cane’s Owner Todd Graves’ journey on starting the popular restaurant chain and building an incredible brand.

Catch the latest episode now on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.

Have a suggestion or topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know! Email us at cmr@countrymusicrocks.net.

Stay in the know with all things country and more. Tune in each week for a brand-new episode. Subscribe and watch on YouTube HERE, and listen on your favorite podcast platform HERE.

The post Country Music & Golf: Masters Talk & Country Golfers + Raising Cane’s 1,000th Opening appeared first on Country Music Rocks.

“Our whole family is captivated by the magic of Disney and we go every year for our daughter Kingsley’s birthday,” shares Kane Brown. “It truly is a dream come true for Kane and I to sing ‘Beauty & The Beast’ together and to be part of such an amazing legacy,” shares Katelyn Brown.

Walt Disney Records’ Main Street Country track list includes:

1. “Beauty and the Beast” from Beauty and the Beast (1991) by Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown — An elegant reimagining of the Grammy®, Oscar®, and Golden Globe® award‑winning ballad from the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic, highlighting the enduring power of love woven throughout the song through the duo’s heartfelt and intimate performance.
2. “The Climb” from Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009) by Restless Road — Originally performed by Disney Legend Miley Cyrus, the trio delivers a heartfelt rendition of the beloved anthem with rich harmonies and emotional storytelling, inspiring fans to keep moving forward and embrace the journey.
3. “She’s So Gone” from Lemonade Mouth (2011) by Dasha — Bringing her own voice and modern country storytelling to the fan‑favorite song from the Disney Channel Original Movie, Dasha delivers an empowering performance that encourages listeners to be brave and celebrate who they are.
4. “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan (1999) by Maddie & Tae — Originally performed by Disney Legend Phil Collins, the duo offers a warm and emotionally resonant interpretation of the song that pulls at the heartstrings, telling this story in a way that feels true to country music while honoring a song that spent 19 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.
5. “Go the Distance” from Hercules (1997) by BRELAND — A classic melody infused with a country twist, BRELAND reintroduces the beloved song from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film in a way listeners will instantly recognize and stays true to the heart, determination, and purpose at the core of the song that originally reached #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and #24 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

Each of the artists reflect on their experience recording for this new Disney album, showing that the magic of Disney is timeless. Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto continue to hold a special place in the hearts of millions.

“Getting to sing one of our favorite Disney songs feels like coming full circle for us,” said Maddie Font and Tae Kerr. “We grew up on these soundtracks, so to be able to contribute to Disney’s legacy is surreal. And knowing this is one of our final releases together as Maddie & Tae makes it even more meaningful. It feels like we’re honoring the little girls we were, and the magical journey we’ve been on together.”

“I think ‘She’s So Gone’ is one of the most iconic songs to come out of Disney Channel,” declares Dasha. “I remember watching Lemonade Mouth for the first time and the whole movie had me plotting how I was going to reinvent myself before school the next day. This track really captures that moment when women find themselves and boldly show the world who they are. I’m so excited to share this with a new generation and remind them that they can reinvent themselves and be exactly who they want to be.”

“Being part of Main Street Country feels like stepping into a story we grew up believing in,” shares Restless Road members Zach Beeken, Garrett Nichols, and Colton Pack. “We’ve always chased songs that feel honest, hopeful, and rooted in real life—and we couldn’t imagine a better one than ‘The Climb.’ Bringing our sound into the world of Disney that celebrates imagination, family, and timeless storytelling is surreal in the best way. It’s an incredible honor to represent country music in a space that reaches so many ears and hearts.”

“I grew up a bona fide Disney kid, and as the child of two gospel singers, the Hercules soundtrack always really spoke to me,” shares BRELAND. “Getting to create some of that same Disney magic that shaped my childhood while recording ‘Go the Distance’ with a live string section is easily one of the most special things I’ve done as an artist.”

Main Street Country is available for pre-save now HERE ahead of its April 3 release. An exclusive vinyl edition will release on May 15 and is available for pre-order HERE.

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