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.
This may be one of the weirdest (and most adorable) awards Thomas Rhett‘s received thus far: The country star has officially been designated as one of the 10 “best mannered” people in the United States for 2017. Rhett earned the recognition because he “inspired fans through his music to value family, relationships and, above all, character.” The annual ranking of polite celebrities is issued by the National League of Junior Cotillions; 2017’s list also includes soccer star David Beckham, HGTV personality Joanna Gaines and pop singer Selena Gomez.
Rick Diamond, Getty Images for Music Business Association
At the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards, Kelly Clarkson will present an as-yet-unnamed award to one lucky actor or actress. Clarkson will join Kerry Washington, Penelope Cruz, Christina Hendricks, Hugh Grant and others at the ceremony, which is set to take place in Los Angeles on Sunday (Jan. 7). The Golden Globes will be broadcast live on NBC starting at 8PM ET.
John Shearer, Getty Images
In 2017, music fans just didn’t rock the jukebox; rather, they wanted country! In a year-end chart issued by TouchTunes, the company that operates more than 65,000 jukeboxes in bars and restaurants across the country, Chris Stapleton‘s “Tennessee Whiskey” was at the very top, among all genres. Keith Urban‘s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” came in at No. 2, Sam Hunt‘s “Body Like a Back Road” is at No. 3, and Jon Pardi‘s “Dirt On My Boots” clocks in at No. 4; Steve Earle‘s jukebox classic “Copperhead Road” rounds out Top 5. Eric Church makes an appearance alongside Stapleton as one of the year’s most-played artists in all genres, while Pardi was one of the year’s most-played new artists.
Rick Diamond, Getty Images
Sturgill Simpson, Emmylou Harris and Americana supergroup I’m With Her (Sarah Jarosz, Sara Watkins and Aoife O’Donovan) have been announced as performers for the 2018 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Set to take place in Telluride, Colo., on June 21-24, the festival will also feature appearances from the Sam Bush Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Bela Fleck and Greensky Bluegrass. Tickets for the festival are on sale now.
Rick Diamond, Getty Images
This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but in 2017, Blake Shelton was the most-played artist on country radio. According to Mediabase (as reported by Rolling Stone), Shelton was both the top-played male performer and the most-played overall artist. Florida Georgia Line came in as the top-played duo in 2017, and newcomer Luke Combs scored the most airplay of any brand-new artist. Country radio’s sexism problem still persists, as not a single female artist made it into the list of 2017’s 10 most-played artists.
Rick Diamond, Getty Images
On Jan. 30, stars from all genres will gather at New York City’s Madison Square Garden for the taping of Elton John: I’m Still Standing — A Grammy Salute, and a few country artists will be on hand to pay tribute to the pop icon. Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Keith Urban and Maren Morris are all set to perform at the event, along with Miley Cyrus, Kesha and John Legend. No air date for the special has been announced just yet, but it will be broadcast at some point in 2018 on CBS.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Stagecoach
Margo Price will be country music’s lone representative at the 2018 Governors Ball. The annual festival, held at New York City’s Randall’s Island Park, will feature Price alongside artists including Eminem, Jack White, Halsey, Khalid and N.E.R.D. Tickets to the festival, which scheduled for June 1-3, are on sale now.
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