This Date in Country Music History

• 2023 – Ashley McBryde released her single “Light On in the Kitchen”
• 2021 – Thomas Rhett scored a #1 single with “What’s Your Country Song”
• 2020 – Joe Diffie announced that he had contracted COVID-19, which would take his life in the coming days
• 2020 – Ingrid Andress released her album Lady Like
• 2020 – Wade Bowen & Randy Rogers released their Texas Country hit “Hold My Beer”
• 2018 – The 2018 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees were announced:  Ricky Skaggs, Dottie West, and Johnny Gimble
• 2018 – Lee Brice’s single “A Woman Like You” was certified Double Platinum
• 2018 – Brantley Gilbert’s single “The Weekend” was certified Platinum
• 2007 – Tim McGraw released his album Let It Go
• 1999 – Kenny Chesney topped the charts for the first of 6 weeks with “How Forever Feels”
• 1971 – Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn topped the charts with “After The Fire Is Gone”
• 1965 – Roger Miller topped the charts with “King of the Road”

HCM Content

• 2024 – HCM Daily Country Music News – March 27th, 2024
• 2023 – HCM Daily Country Music News – March 27th, 2023
• 2020 – HCM Daily News – March 27th, 2020

Danielle Bradbery

This Date in Country Music History

• 2020 – Ingrid Andress’ song “More Hearts Than Mine” was certified Platinum
• 2020 – Morgan Wallen’s song “Chasin’ You” was certified Platinum
• 2020 – Brantley Gilbert’s single “Bottoms Up” was certified Quadruple Platinum
• 2016 – Dierks Bentley’s album Black debuted at #1 on the country albums chart
• 2015 – Toby Keith and Bobby Braddock were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
• 2013 – LoCash Cowboys released their self-titled debut full-length album
• 2013 – Danielle Bradbery won NBC’s The Voice
• 1996 – Ricochet made their Grand Ole Opry debut
• 1994 – Neal McCoy‘s “Wink” hit #1 for the first of a 4-week run at the top of charts

HCM Content

• 2024 – HCM Daily Country Music News – June 18th, 2024
• 2021 – HCM Daily News – June 18th, 2021
• 2021 – Today’s New Music – June 18th, 2021
• 2020 – HCM Daily News – June 18th, 2020
• 2018 – Country Music Videos – June 18th, 2018
• 2015 – HCM Daily Country Music News Update – Thursday, June 18th, 2015
• Today’s Birthdays – June 18th

• Artist Name:  Andrew Mitch
• Hometown:  Pittsburgh, PA area

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I’m working on a new full-length album, acoustic versions of tracks that are already out, music videos, getting my merchandise store up and running – just everything! That creative process is so exciting, and I can’t wait to start sharing all the fun stuff!

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I used to listen to my dad sing and play guitar when I was little. He would sit on the staircase, and I’d just want to listen for hours. Overtime, I developed a love for singing in church, writing little songs (even though my first ones were not good at all haha), playing music…eventually I realized there was nothing else I loved more, and I simply HAD to pursue an entertainment career.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

Before pursuing music in Nashville, I was working on my Ph.D. in biochemistry and physics. So I probably would have stuck with that and would be some sort of professor or research scientist.

What is your favorite downtime activity?

I’ve recently been trying to get much better at my instruments, so practicing guitar and piano have been my go-to activities for when I’m not working.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Matt Bomer, 100% haha.

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

I don’t really watch sports much, but I grew up around the Pittsburgh area. So I grew up rooting for the Penguins, Pirates, and Steelers.

What is the last movie that you watched?

I just watched “Just Go With It” with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston – I laughed so hard!

What is the last album you listened to?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Ed Sheeran lately. His “Subtract” album is one of my favorites!

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Gosh, I have so many favorite albums. Both “Stages” by Cassadee Pope and “Lady Like” by Ingrid Andress are constantly on repeat for me, so one of those!

What is the greatest country song of all time?

I don’t think that there is any one country song that is the “greatest,” if I’m being honest. Country music is about storytelling, and everyone can relate to different stories. So I feel like the “greatest” one differs for everyone. But there are some songs that, even if you don’t like country music, everyone knows and everyone can’t help but sing. Songs like “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “I Will Always Love You” are some of those classic, great country songs.

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

I was briefly out in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and I think the west coast is absolutely stunning. I’ve always wanted to visit it, ever since I was little, so that was so cool to see!

What is your favorite meal?

Anything Italian!

Who is your dream duet partner?

I would love to write and sing with Ed Sheeran or Ingrid Andress!

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Again: Ed Sheeran or Ingrid Andress, haha.

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

So many different goals, like playing in a stadium and making my Grand Ole Opry debut. But truly, when I get messages from fans or someone comes up to me telling me how much my song changed their life… I mean, that’s a dream come true already!

How can fans connect with you on Social Media?

I’m on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok primarily! Send me a message (@andrewmitchmusic) – I always reply to all my messages!

The fan-voted 2023 CMT Awards is airing live this evening from Austin, TX on CBS.  Please visit this post often as we update it throughout the night!

• The show started with a cold-open of Kelsea Ballerini giving an impassioned speech about the recent school shooting in Nashville.
• After the show’s official intro, we got started with Blake Shelton standing in a darkened arena with a spotlight on him, proclaiming that he still loves Austin (in a nod to his smash hit debut single “Austin”) before performing his current single “No Body”
• The voice-over announcer listed off the evening’s performers before Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown came out as hosts, welcoming the crowd and pointing out some of the stars in attendance.  They then exchanged gifts, Kelsea getting a beige cowboy hat, and Kane getting a pink cowboy hat.
• The nominees for Video of the Year were announced, as it is live-voted on during the show.  Visit cmt.com now to vote!
• They then kicked it over to the front of the Texas State Capitol where Tyler Hubbard performed his new single “Dancing in the Country”
• Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown came back on to introduce Gary Clark Jr. who performed Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “The House is Rockin'”
• As they have done in past years, they go to commercial break with breakout artists performing snippets of their music.  The first commercial break featured Lily Rose performing “Whatcha Know About That”
• They came back from commercial with Kelsea introducing the “new Texas CMT Awards Trophy” which featured a red button on it.  When she pressed it, you heard Matthew McConaughey’s famous “Alright, Alright, Alright.”  A video clip then aired of McConaughey saying he wanted one, and Kelsea quipping that he’d have to win one first
• Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp came out to announce the CMT Award for Collaborative Video of the Year:
  • “Worth a Shot” by Elle King & Dierks Bentley
  • “Wait in the Truck” by Hardy & Lainey Wilson – WINNER
  • “Wishful Drinking” by Ingrid Andress & Sam Hunt
  • “Thank God” by Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown
  • “Longneck Way to Go” by Midland & Jon Pardi
  • “She Likes It” by Russell Dickerson & Jake Scott
  • “Where We Started” by Thomas Rhett & Katy Perry
• Jon Pardi came out to introduce Carly Pearce who performed her current hit single “What He Didn’t Do”
• Cody Alan appeared backstage for the Solitaire Grand Harvest Game Lounge along with a cameo from Dustin Lynch
• Kelsea Ballerini and Kane Brown brought us back from commercial to introduce Parker McCollum, who came out to give out the award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year:
  • “Narcissist” by Avery Anna
  • “If He Wanted to He Would” by Kylie Morgan
  • “Pickup” by Mackenzie Porter
  • “Tennessee Orange” by Megan Moroney – WINNER
  • “Wilder Days” by Morgan Wade
  • “Found In You” by Tiera Kennedy
• He then gave out the award for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year:
  • “Son of a Sinner” by Jelly Roll – WINNER
  • “Fall in Love” by Bailey Zimmerman
  • “Wild as Her” by Corey Kent
  • “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” by Drake Milligan
  • “Don’t Come Lookin'” by Jackson Dean
  • “Whiskey On You” by Nate Smith
• Kelsea then came back out to promote an upcoming TV special for The Judds Final Tour.  She then introduced Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde who came out to perform a cover of Foreigner’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is” which she performed during The Judds Final Tour
• We come back from commercial with the announcer introducing Megan Thee Stallion, who presented Shania Twain as this year’s Equal Play Award Recipient
• The star of the new show True Lies, Steven Howey, came out to introduce Cody Johnson, who performed his current hit single “Human”
• Kane Brown was back out to introduce Keith Urban, who performed his current single “Brown Eyes Baby” on the outdoor Capitol Stage
• Kelsea came back out and noted that the Group/Duo Video of the Year winner was announced earlier, before the broadcast:
  • “You (Performance Video)” by Dan  + Shay
  • “Summer State of Mind” by Lady A
  • “Hell Yeah” by Little Big Town
  • “Take My Name” by Parmalee
  • “That’s How Love is Made” by The War and Treaty
  • “Out in the Middle” by Zac Brown Band – WINNER
    
• Kelsea then introduced Nate Smith, who performed part of his single “Whiskey On You” as they went to commercial
• Cody Alan brought us back from commercial break to introduce Jennifer Landon and Ian Bohen from Yellowstone and Hardy to introduce Lainey Wilson who performed her newly minted #1 hit single “Heart Like a Truck”
• The announcer introduced Jackson Dean who performed part of his hit “Don’t Come Lookin'” as we go to commercial
• Kelsea Ballerini brings us back from commercial to introduce Gwen Stefani and Carly Pearce who performed No Doubt’s “I’m Just a Girl”
• The announcer introduced Shania Twain who brought out the Boykinz to do a brief a capella version of Shania’s “Giddy Up” before Shania gave out the award for Female Video of the Year:
  • “What He Didn’t Do” by Carly Pearce
  • “Ghost Story” by Carrie Underwood
  • “Pick Me Up” by Gabby Barrett
  • “HEARTFIRST” by Kelsea Ballerini
  • “Heart Like a Truck” by Lainey Wilson – WINNER
  • “Humble Quest” by Maren Morris
  • “Actin’ Up” by Miranda Lambert
• The announcer took us to commercial by letting us know that Jelly Roll will be taking the stage soon
• We come back to find Kane Brown wearing a “This Shirt Saves Lives” t-shirt, which promotes the work that St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital does.  He then introduced Jelly Roll, who came out with a choir to perform his new single “I Need a Favor”
• The announcer then introduced Charles Esten and Madison Bailey from the TV Show Outer Banks to give out the CMT Award for CMT Performance of the Year:
  • “Colors” by Black Pumas & Mickey Guyton (from 2022’s CMT Music Awards)
  • “Whenever You Come Around” by Chris Stapleton (from CMT Giants)
  • “Til You Can’t” by Cody Johnson (from 2022’s CMT Music Awards) – WINNER
  • “Never Say Never” by Cole Swindell & Lainey Wilson (from 2022’s CMT Music Awards)
  • “Let Her Cry” by Darius Rucker (from CMT Storytellers)
  • “Lay Me Down” by Emmy Russell & Lukas Nelson (from Coal Miner’s Daughter:  A Celebration of the Life and Music of Loretta Lynn)
  • “Wild Hearts” by Keith Urban (from 2022’s CMT Music Awards)
  • “One Way Ticket” LeAnn Rimes w/ Ashley McBryde & Carly Pearce (from CMT Crossroads)
  • “Love Can Build a Bridge” by The Judds (from 2022’s CMT Music Awards)
  • “The Rose” by Wynonna Judd and Brandi Carlile (from Naomi Judd:  A River of Time Celebration)
• We come back from commercial with the announcer introducing Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, who was in the crowd to introduce Kelsea Ballerini who performed her single “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” with four drag queens dancing around her
• The announcer then introduced Max Thieriot of CBS’s SEAL Team and Fire Country to introduced Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown to perform their duet “Thank God” from the outdoor Capitol Stage
• We go to commercial with Avery Anna performing a clip of her song “Narcissist”
• We come back to Carrie Underwood introducing The Black Crowes and Darius Rucker who performed “She Talks to Angels”
• LeAnn Rimes came out to announce the winner of the 2023 CMT Award for Best Male Video of the Year
  • “Rock and a Hard Place” by Bailey Zimmerman
  • “Human” by Cody Johnson
  • “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” by Cole Swindell
  • “Son of a Sinner” by Jelly Roll – WINNER
  • “Like I Love Country Music” by Kane Brown
  • “The Kind of Love We Make” by Luke Combs
  • “Wasted on You” by Morgan Wallen
• Carly Pearce brought us back from commercial talking about the CMT’s Next Women of Country program before introducing Alanis Morissette with Lainey Wilson, Ingrid Andress, Madeline Edwards and Morgan Wade who performed “You Oughta Know”
• We go to commercial break with Megan Moroney performing a clip of her hit single “Tennessee Orange”
• We come back to Dustin Lynch, who introduced Dixie D’Amelio, who then introduced Carrie Underwood who performed “I Hate My Heart” on the outdoor Capitol Stage
• The final performance of the night from the Dodge Ram Stage as we go to another commercial is “You Can Have Him Jolene” by Chapel Hart
• We come back from commercial with Darius Rucker, who was out to announce the CMT Award for Video of the Year:
• Finalists:
  • “Hate My Heart” by Carrie Underwood
  • “Wait in the Truck” by Hardy & Lainey Wilson
  • “Thank God” by Kane Brown & Katelyn Brown – WINNER
• Runners-Up
  • “Bonfire at Tina’s” by Ashley McBryde, Caylee Hammack, Brandy Clark, Pillbox Patti
  • “No Body” by Blake Shelton
  • “Human” by Cody Johnson
  • “Worth a Shot” by Elle King & Dierks Bentley
  • “Pick Me Up” by Gabby Barrett
  • “Down Home” by Jimmie Allen
  • “Wild Hearts” by Keith Urban
  • “HEARTFIRST” by Kelsea Ballerini
  • “Rich Man” by Little Big Town
  • “Country On” by Luke Bryan
  • “The Kind of Love We Make” by Luke Combs
  • “You Proof” by Morgan Wallen
  •  “AA” by Walker Hayes
• Peter Frampton came out to honor Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
• The show ended with an all-star performance of “Simple Man” and “Sweet Home Alabama” honoring Lynyrd Skynyrd by members of ZZ Top, Bad Company, Guns N Roses, and The Allman Brothers.  The performers were Cody Johnson, Billy Gibbons, Paul Rodgers, Slash, Chuck Leavell, Warren Haynes, Wynonna Judd, and LeAnn Rimes!  That was one hell of a performance to wrap up the show!