Welcome to The Boot’s News Roundup, a morning rundown of the news country music fans need to know. Read on to learn more about the latest goings-on in the country, Americana, bluegrass and folk genres.
Country legend George Strait has been named the 2018 Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference. According to KHOU, the award is being presented to Strait in recognition of his efforts to “raise awareness and funds” for victims of Hurricane Harvey, which hit Houston earlier this year. Strait will receive the award at the Texan of the Year reception on March 22 in New Braunfels, Texas.
Mike Coppola / Ari Perilstein, Getty Images
“Meant to Be,” Florida Georgia Line‘s genre-crossing duet with pop singer Bebe Rexha, made its debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of Dec. 16. According to Billboard, the track is being “dually promoted” on both country and pop radio, a decision that is partially responsible for the song’s success. The single marks Rexha’s debut on the country charts, and the sixth No. 1 hit for FGL on Hot Country Songs.
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On Wednesday (Dec. 6), Time magazine revealed its 2017 Person of the Year cover, and Taylor Swift is among this year’s honorees. The annual award is being presented in 2017 to “The Silence Breakers,” or those who spoke out against the rampant culture of sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment, music and other industries. Swift’s appearance on Time‘s cover and in the magazine’s story comes after she successfully sued a Denver radio DJ named David Mueller for sexual harassment.
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ABC is set to air a commemorative special called The Year in Memoriam 2017, a tribute to the “legendary stars and icons the world lost this year and the legacies they left behind.” A project of Jimmy Kimmel, and hosted by Robin Roberts, the TV special will feature country artists Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker honoring the late Glen Campbell, while Hunter Hayes will perform a tribute to Tom Petty and Chuck Berry alongside Alice Cooper. The Year in Memoriam 2017 will air on Dec. 18 and 19.
Courtesy of Absolute Publicity
Shenandoah, Denny Strickland, Lewis Brice and Three Doors Down are among the artists who will take part in the annual Christmas 4 Kids Tour Bus Show in Hendersonville, Tenn., this year. On Dec. 11, from 5PM until 9PM, at the Hendersonville Walmart, artists will welcome fans aboard their tour buses to help raise money for Christmas 4 Kids, an annual event that gives more than 400 underprivileged children from schools around Middle Tennessee a day of shopping and a special dinner, complete with an appearance from Santa.
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In 2018, Americana chanteuse Margo Price will make her solo debut at Nashville’s hallowed Ryman Auditorium. The venue will be the final stop on her early 2018 tour, which includes visits to Texas, Colorado, Arizona and the United Kingdom in support of Price’s most recent release, All American Made. At the performance, Tyler Childers will serve as Price’s supporting act. Tickets to the May 19 show go on sale on Dec. 8.
Rick Diamond, Getty Images for Outback Concerts
For the first time in a decade, Garth Brooks has a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. According to Billboard, “Ask Me How I Know” is Brooks’ 19th No. 1 hit, and his first since he released “More Than a Memory” in 2007.
Rick Diamond, Getty Images for CRS
Luke Combs, Lauren Alaina, Midland, Carly Pearce and Michael Ray have all been announced as performers for the CRS 2018 New Faces of Country Music show in Nashville, Tenn. The showcase, as its name might indicate, is intended to highlight the hottest up-and-coming artists in country music, and will close out the Country Radio Seminar, an annual convention for radio professionals. The show will be held on Feb. 7, during the 2018 Country Radio Seminar, which is scheduled for Feb. 5-7.
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