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Post by Admin on Apr 7, 2020 1:04:17 GMT
 More than 20 country artists joined forces Sunday evening (April 5) for ACM Presents: Our Country, a two-hour television special on CBS that featured some of the genre’s biggest stars performing from the comfort of their homes. The 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards were originally scheduled for Sunday, and following the coronavirus pandemic, the awards show was pushed to Sept. 16. Instead of giving up the time slot, the Academy decided to offer some hope and togetherness to the nation. Gayle King served as the evening’s host, promising that each performance was shot with social distancing in mind. “There's a lot of uncertainty about how long this will last, but one thing we do know is the healing power of music,” King said. “And nobody -- I mean nobody -- is better at nursing that power than country music artists." Some of the best moments of the special came from the unexpected. Lady Antebellum’s children stole the spotlight during a powerful performance of their latest single “What I’m Leaving For,” while Shania Twain’s performance in her stable provided some much-needed laughter as her horse kept getting closer and closer to her guitar. Good friends Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker joined forces during several performances throughout the evening, while Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani also teamed up for their latest duet, “Nobody But You,” from the comfort of Oklahoma. All the while, each act stressed to the viewer “we’re all in this together.” |
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Post by Admin on Apr 7, 2020 4:55:30 GMT
Underwood appeared from her couch with a glass of red wine beside her ahead of her sultry performance of “Drinking Alone” from her latest album Cry Pretty. “Now we have to find things to do when we’re alone together,” she joked. “We’re not really alone. We are alone together, and this is exactly how we’re going to get through this mess.” As she hit play on a piano track, Underwood took viewers into her home for a stunning living room performance that highlighted her smoky vocals and powerful belt.
While viewers got a peek inside some of country music’s biggest stars’ homes, Twain took the camera into her stable for a two-song set. After assuring fans that “we’re all in this together,” Twain broke out into the upbeat “Honey I’m Home” and fan favorite “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” as one of her horses looked on. At one point, her horse rubbed up against her face as she was singing and licked her strings. Always a professional, Twain continued the song with a smile, unfazed.
Lady Antebellum -- while socially distancing from the trio's respective homes -- dedicated the performance of their poignant single “What I’m Leaving For” off their latest album Ocean to the doctors, nurses, first responders and everyone in the medical field on the frontlines of the coronavirus. "Walking out of your house, leaving your family, it’s not easy to do what you have to do," Hillary Scott said.
Scott kicked off the song’s first verse with whispered vocals before bandmate Charles Kelley chimed in on harmony and the following verse. The trio were joined by their children as they each sang the powerful song. Kelley's son, Ward, sat on his lap as he sang the aching ballad of leaving loved ones to chase a dream while Dave Haywood’s son, Cash, peaked out from behind his guitar as he strummed along. Soon Cash made his way to the front of the screen for some funny faces. A much needed respite from the state of the world, Lady Antebellum’s mesmerizing performance provided hope and laughter during a difficult time.
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Post by Admin on Apr 7, 2020 18:15:08 GMT
ACM Presents: Our Country spurred immediate sales gains for the songs performed on the two-hour CBS TV special, according to initial reports to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.  On the day of the show, which aired April 5, the collected songs performed on the broadcast sold 21,000 downloads in the U.S. – up 216% as compared to the 7,000 the combined tunes sold on April 4. Among the most significant gaining songs performed on the show include Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani’s “Nobody But You,” which shifted 2,000 downloads (up 106%), Kane Brown and John Legend's “Last Time I Say Sorry” (4,000; up 258%) and Miranda Lambert’s “Bluebird” (1,000; up 172%). |
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Post by Admin on Apr 8, 2020 1:02:40 GMT
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani are currently on lockdown in Oklahoma together, but are passing the time by “drinking all day,” according to the country singer. “We’re happy to be in Oklahoma hiding away … drinking all day,” Shelton, dressed in camo, said.
“We planned on being at the ACM Awards tonight and we wanted to sing this song there.” The pair then segued into their latest duet “Nobody But You.” As the fire crackled behind them, the couple harmonized on the breathtaking ballad of love while Shelton strummed his acoustic guitar. It ended with Stefani lovingly leaning her head on Shelton’s shoulder, giving viewers a glimpse of their life in Oklahoma together.
Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker teamed up for two performances on ACM Presents: Our Country. The first saw Paisley singing while seated on his truck bed with an acoustic guitar for the feel-good “Mud On the Tires.” As he wrapped the song he pulled up Rucker on FaceTime for a duet of “Wagon Wheel.” Rucker, seated on his front porch in Charleston, S.C., was accompanied by Paisley who provided harmonies and fancy guitar handiwork on the sing-along anthem. As the song came to a close, the pair caught up with each other as Kimberly Williams-Paisley made an appearance from behind the camera further showcasing the magic of technology.
Later, Paisley and Rucker would join forces again as they paid tribute to the late Kenny Rogers, who passed away in March. “Kenny is the reason I’m sitting here,” Rucker said before the two launched into a memorable cover of “Lucille” and “The Gambler.”
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