Zach Bryan’s fans were very upset that he got zero CMA nominations this year. He responded to their concerns yesterday on Twitter. “Guys, I don’t and will never want to be considered at the CMAs. My pride is fine, and I appreciate all the love and support, and I say it with every ounce of respect to other country artists.” A few minutes later he said award shows are “outdated systems” and he’d rather laugh at them than “be butt hurt over it.” He also said artists who “do a task solely to be awarded for it shouldn’t be doing the task at all.” Somebody asked if he thinks artists are only doing it for awards. “No, I don’t. There are many talented artists that deserve awards and will be awarded, but some don’t care about a silly TV program to need an award in the first place.” And then he closed it off by saying this is HIS personal perspective. Zach built his career by doing it his way, and he’s killing it. If the CMAs never call, he’ll be fine. But WHEN they do, and you know they will, it’ll be fascinating to see how he responds. Zach’s album “American Heartbreak” broke single-day streaming records on multiple platforms. It also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. His song “Something in the Orange” is at #3 on the Hot Country Songs chart. He’s selling out festivals and shows wherever he goes, and he’ll be headlining next summer’s Rock the South Festival, alongside . . . Chris Stapleton.
We lost a huge talent on Monday when Alabama guitarist Jeff Cook passed away from Parkinson’s disease at 73. Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry both put out statements yesterday. They played with him for over 50 years, and were all cousins. So they were very close. Randy said Jeff “lived to play” the music they made, and “could play any instrument” he picked up. But he said it’s the “harmonies” he’ll miss the most. Teddy said they were “closer than brothers,” and talked about how the three of them spent more time together than with their own families. He said they went through ups and downs as a group, and none of them were ever perfect. But, “together we had something so special, it will never die.”
Miranda Lambert turned 39 years old yesterday. So to celebrate, her husband Brendan McLoughlin posted a sweet message with a collection of photos. “It’s an honor to be called your husband. You’re the most beautiful person inside and out. You have the biggest heart and show it every day through your love for others and animals.”
If you missed the CMA Awards this week, Brothers Osborne won Duo of the Year. And while they were onstage, John Osborne announced that he and his wife Lucie Silvas are expecting TWINS. They will be their first kids . . . and they were conceived through IVF.
Brantley Gilbert’s album “So Help Me God” is out today. It includes the song “Heaven By Then”, with Blake Shelton and Vince Gill. Brantley says having those two on it is a bucket list item that he didn’t know was on his bucket list. “They gave it a voice that I didn’t have, and made it that much more special.”
• “Cheers, It’s Christmas (Super Deluxe)”, Blake Shelton. This deluxe version of his 2012 Christmas album includes three new songs, “Up On The House Top”, “Holly Jolly Christmas” . . . and “Cheer For The Elves”, which was originally written and recorded by his wife, Gwen Stefani.
• “So Help Me God”, Brantley Gilbert. It’s his sixth album. His guests include Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Vince Gill, Hardy, and Toby Keith.
• “Note To Self”, Randy Houser. This is his sixth album.
• “God, Family, Country (Deluxe Edition)”, Craig Morgan. The deluxe edition of his 2020 album “God, Family, Country” includes four new songs.
• “Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver”, Various Artists. This Billy Joe Shaver tribute album includes covers by George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, Margo Price, and Steve Earle.
Leonardo DiCaprio is 48.
Carson Kressley is 53. “Queer Eye” fashion expert.
Calista Flockhart is 58. “Ally McBeal”
Demi Moore is 60.
Stanley Tucci is 62. From the “The Hunger Games” movies and one of Meryl Streep’s sidekicks in “The Devil Wears Prada”. He was also the scientist who creates the serum that turns Chris Evans into “Captain America”.
Fuzzy Zoeller is 71.
