12 October 2020

The hosts of the 54th CMA Awards have been chosen, with Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker being chosen to present the iconic event, set to take place from Music City Center in downtown Nashville. Reba was also a co-host for the 53rd (2019) Awards, taking to the stage with Dolly Parton and Carrie Underwood, making this her fifth time hosting the Awards. By contrast, this is Rucker’s debut. Speaking about the announcement, both Reba and Rucker expressed their pride and joy to be hosting the event and while it won’t be the same as normal, they’re excited to see how it goes. “I’m thrilled to be back hosting the CMA Awards and even more thrilled that I get to share the stage with Darius Rucker,” McEntire said. “We’re looking forward to a night of celebrating great Country Music and hope you’ll tune in and watch.” “I look forward to the CMA Awards every year because of the incredible performances and the opportunity to celebrate the year in Country Music,” Rucker added. “To be invited to host this year’s awards alongside Reba — are you kidding me?! — it is an absolute honour. Even though this year will look a little different than normal, I know that we’re all eager for a night of musical celebration and this year’s show definitely won’t disappoint!” There are more details to come from how the CMA Awards will go on the night, but there have been a number of live performances from huge stars promised.

Ingrid Andress has released a deluxe version of her debut album ‘Lady Like’, which features five new additions and a completely different tracklist to the original. You can listen to the new version here. Andress has included a re-imagined version of The Stranger, her solo take on the Charli XCX hit Boys (which Andress wrote), Feeling Things, Waste of Lime and a collaboration with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Kimberley Schlapman in More Hearts Than Mine.  Speaking about the decision to shake things up and release a deluxe edition, Andress explained how the new tracklisting is designed to take listeners on her path that consists of pushing pain away, trying to love again and falling over again, all while including new songs. “My love life and emotions are always all over the place,” explains Andress. “And with the new songs as a part of the deluxe, I felt like this special tracklisting was a perfect way to let fans inside my head a little bit more.” Since the release of the initial version of ‘Lady Like’ – and well before then, too – Ingrid Andress has seen her profile rise significantly, to the point where she has been nominated at the upcoming CMA Awards for New Artist of the Year.