Two-time GRAMMY® winner Billy Ray Cyrus unleashed “Ask” today (March 21), an all-new collaboration produced by Yung Lan (Roddy Ricch, Lil Baby), Brandon Manley and Eric Hurt. The collaboration also features vocals by co-writers Ben Burgess (Morgan Wallen) and Manley on the track. The cinematic video for “Ask” by Director and Creative Lead Derrek Kupish, and cinematographer Chase Dunivant, captures Cyrus, Manley and Burgess on rural Tennessee train tracks journeying through life. “Ask” showcases Cyrus’s fresh sonic sound as a legendary music icon who’s transcended genres for more than 30 years:

It’s a long and winding road
It happens fast, so take it slow
You gon’ get there before you know
So, if you’re lost just ask

You know the future ain’t past
Buckle up and hit the gas
Won’t get there looking back
If you’re lost just ask

“Ask” follows Cyrus’s critically acclaimed alternative release “Lost” with Tommee Profitt and Sam Tinnesz earlier this year. This summer, Cyrus will unveil a new album of all new music produced by his son Braison Cyrus.

ABOUT BILLY RAY CYRUS:
Two-time GRAMMY® winner Billy Ray Cyrus is a critically and commercially acclaimed superstar who has established himself as a household name across all areas of the entertainment landscape, including music, movies, television, theater and more. A passionate philanthropist, he dedicates his time and talent giving back to U.S. service members, veterans and first responders. Billy Ray Cyrus holds the worldwide record for the longest Hot 100 No. 1 best-selling RIAA® 14x Diamond-certified song of all-time as an artist and songwriter for “Old Town Road” with Lil Nas X. He exploded onto the music scene when his first album, Some Gave All, debuted on the all-genre Billboard 200 album chart at No. 1 and stayed there for a record-breaking 17 weeks in 1992. The lead single, “Achy Breaky Heart,” became a phenomenon and went multi-platinum, also becoming the first ever song to achieve triple platinum status in Australia. After “Achy Breaky Heart,” he followed up with back-to-back hits “It Could’ve Been Me,” “She’s Not Crying Anymore,” “Some Gave All,” and many more. Billy Ray Cyrus knocked himself out of the top Billboard position with his second No. 1 album, It Won’t Be The Last, featuring smash hits “In the Heart of a Woman,” “Words By Heart” and “Somebody New.” In addition to his GRAMMY® Awards, his accolades include Billboard Music Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, MTV VMA Moonmen, Country Music Association Awards, American Music Awards and Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Juno Awards, among many more.

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Dick Clark Productions (DCP) today announced nominations for the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards on TODAY, with Ella Langley, Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson receiving the most nominations. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Thursday, May 8 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The monumental anniversary show will celebrate six decades of Country Music and feature unforgettable performances by the genre’s most legendary and multi-award-winning stars, including Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and Lainey Wilson.

A limited number of tickets to the 60th ACM Awards are available now at SeatGeek, offering fans exclusive entry into a night packed with their favorite Country stars performing the biggest hits.

Fans can also stream the Official ACM Awards playlist available now on Amazon Music in celebration of this year’s nominees. Fans can listen to country music’s biggest stars, such as Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, and Jelly Roll, directly on the Amazon Music app HERE.

Nominee Highlights for the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards

• First time ACM Award nominee, Ella Langley, leads with eight nominations including Female Artist of the Year, New Female Artist of the Year, and six nominations for her song with Riley Green, “you look like you love me,” which include Single of the Year, Song of the Year as an artist and songwriter, Music Event of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year as an artist and director.
• Cody Johnson ties for the most nominations for a male artist with seven nominations, including his second nomination for Entertainer of the Year, and his third year in a row being nominated for Song of the Year, with “Dirt Cheap” being nominated in the category, as well as Single of the Year and Visual Media of the Year. Johnson is competing with himself in Visual Media of the Year, as his collaboration with Carrie Underwood, “I’m Gonna Love You,” is also up for the award. Johnson’s seven nominations this year mark the most ACM Award nominations he has ever received in one year and make him the most-nominated Texas-born artist this year.
• Morgan Wallen ties for the most nominations for a male artist with seven nominations, including his third consecutive nomination for Entertainer of the Year. Wallen received four nominations for his collaboration with Post Malone on “I Had Some Help,” which includes three artist nominations and one songwriter nomination for Wallen.
• Lainey Wilson ties for the most nominations in different categories, earning nods in six separate categories, including her first nomination for Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Wilson’s nominations for Song of the Year mark her fourth consecutive year being nominated and her seventh total nomination (including artist and songwriter credits) in the category.  
• Luke Combs is a nominee for Entertainer of the Year. A win for Combs in this category will also clinch the coveted Triple Crown Award, which consists of an Entertainer of the Year win, plus wins in an act’s respective New Artist (Male, Female, Duo or Group) and Artist (Male, Female, Duo or Group) categories. Past ACM Triple Crown Award recipients include Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and others.  This is the sixth year in a row that Luke Combs has been nominated for both Male Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
• Chris Stapleton receives six nominations, including his tenth consecutive nomination for Male Artist of the Year, an award he’s won four times in the past, including at the 59th ACM Awards.
• Old Dominion receives a nomination for Group of the Year, making this the tenth consecutive year they have been nominated in the category. The group has taken home the title every year for the last seven years. 
• Brothers Osborne’s nomination for Duo of the Year marks their 18th ACM nomination and their eleventh year in a row being nominated for ACM Duo of the Year, an award the pair has brought home four times.
• Kacey Musgraves’ three nominations this year brings her total nominations count to 30, including nine nominations for Female Artist of the Year. She won the award in 2018, the same year she won Album of the Year for Golden Hour. 
• Kelsea Ballerini receives her first ever Entertainer of the Year nomination in addition to nominations for Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year as an artist and producer. This is her eighth time being nominated for Female Artist of the Year.
• Little Big Town earns their 19th nomination for Group of the Year, which is one nomination shy of tying the record for the most nominations in the category, a record held by Alabama. Little Big Town has been nominated in the category every year since 2005, with the exception of 2011.
• Rascal Flatts receives their first nomination for Group of the Year since 2017, having most recently won the award in 2009 for the seventh time.
• Shaboozey receives his first ACM Award nominations, including a nomination for Best New Male Artist and Single of the Year for his record-breaking hit song “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
• First-time artist nominees include Gavin Adcock, Dasha, Noah Kahan, Ella Langley, Jessie Murph, Muscadine Bloodline, Shaboozey, Zach Top, The Red Clay Strays, Treaty Oak Revival, and Tucker Wetmore.

The following is the full list of nominees for the ACM Main Awards, Studio Recording Awards, and Industry Awards categories:

MAIN AWARDS:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kelsea Ballerini
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen

DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
The War And Treaty

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Flatland Cavalry
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays

NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kassi Ashton
Ashley Cooke
Dasha
Ella Langley
Jessie Murph

NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gavin Adcock
Shaboozey
Zach Top
Tucker Wetmore
Bailey Zimmerman

NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Restless Road
The Red Clay Strays
Treaty Oak Revival

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney
Producer: Kristian Bush
Record Company-Label: Columbia Records / Sony Music Nashville

Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
Producers: BazeXX, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Devin Dawson, Charlie Handsome, Ben Johnson, mgk, The Monsters & Strangerz, Austin Nivarel, SlimXX, Ryan Tedder, Isaiah Tejada, Alysa Vanderheym
Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Republic Records

Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Record Company-Label: Leo33

F-1 Trillion – Post Malone
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville

SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry
Record Company-Label: American Dogwood / EMPIRE

Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson
Producer: Trent Willmon
Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville

I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

White Horse – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton
Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville

you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Producer: Will Bundy
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
4x4xU – Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
Publishers: Louisiana Lady; One Tooth Productions; Reservoir 416; Songs of One Riot Music; Sony/ATV Accent

The Architect – Kacey Musgraves
Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Songs for Indy and Owl; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing

Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson
Songwriter: Josh Phillips
Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing; Write or Die Music; Write the Lightning Publishing

I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters, Ryan Vojtesak
Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing; Master of my Domain Music; Poppy’s Picks; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing; Universal Music Corporation

you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere
Publishers: Back 40 Publishing International; Langley Publishing; One Tooth Productions; Sony/ATV Tree; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp

MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
Cowboys Cry Too – Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan
Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan, Alysa Vanderheym
Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment

I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records

I’m Gonna Love You – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
Producer: Trent Willmon
Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville

we don’t fight anymore – Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records

you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Producer: Will Bundy
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records

VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
4x4xU – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jennifer Ansell
Director: Dano Cerny

Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson
Producer: Dustin Haney
Director: Dustin Haney

I’m Gonna Love You – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry
Director: Dustin Haney

Think I’m In Love With You – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Wes Edwards, Angie Lorenz, Jamie Stratakis
Director: Running Bear (Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Stone)

you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Producer: Whale Tale Music
Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney

ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
ERNEST
HARDY
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jessi Alexander
Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne

The Country Music Association gathered at the prestigious Rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, today, to reveal the 2025 inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame – Tony Brown, June Carter Cash and Kenny Chesney.

Brown will be inducted in the Non-Performer category, which is awarded every third year in rotation with the Songwriter and Recording and/or Touring Musician categories. Cash will be inducted into the Veterans Era Artist category and Chesney will be inducted in the Modern Era Artist category.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill hosted the press conference to announce the news, which was also streamed live on CMA’s YouTube channel. 

“This year’s inductees embody the relentless drive and dedication that defines Country Music,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Kenny, June and Tony have each left a lasting imprint on the genre, shaping its history with their contributions. From a young age, each of them was immersed in music, and their lifelong commitment has led to this very moment. Their achievements speak to the passion and dedication that have defined their extraordinary careers, and the impact of their work will continue to inspire future generations. There’s something incredibly special about being able to surprise each inductee or their family with this recognition – it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of my job, knowing how deeply their careers have touched the lives of so many, including myself. It is with great pride that we honor these three remarkable individuals and celebrate the lasting legacy they have created within our format.”

“All three of the new inductees have left indelible impacts on the genre and firmly established themselves as unforgettable contributors to Country Music,” says Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Chief Executive Officer. “North Carolina native Tony Brown is a trailblazing record producer and executive who has helped shape the sound of modern Country since the 1980s, supervising many best-selling records while also ushering in outsider talents to the genre. Virginia-born June Carter Cash was a vibrant torchbearer of her family’s enduring Country Music legacy who forged her own distinctive path during her more than 60-year career as a beloved singer, comedienne and songwriter. And Kenny Chesney, from Tennessee, has maintained one of the biggest hitmaking careers in Country Music since 2000, with more than 50 Top 10 hits, 16 Platinum albums, and is a regular top touring act who continues to delight audiences. Fittingly, they will now forever be enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame with their illustrious peers who shaped our art form.”

“When you’re producing No.1 records, you feel like you know what you’re doing,” says Brown. “But being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame — especially for someone as idealistic as me —makes it feel like you’ve truly made an impact. And that has always been my goal.”

“June Carter Cash represents the whole cloth of Country Music, it’s breadth and heritage,” says the Cash family. “And June’s place in Country Music is undeniable. From the 1940s, across the decades and into the current century, her voice has been heard across the country and throughout much of the world, both with Mother Maybelle Carter, sisters Helen and Anita, and on her own, as well as with her duet partners, including her beloved Johnny Cash, with whom she told stories and inspired musicians both past, present, and future. She was a loving wife and mother, an actress, singer, songwriter, comedienne and a truly gifted performer whose persona was never exactly what was expected but was always and totally June. She profoundly respected, and was respected for, her craft, and that endures to this day. We, the Carter and Cash families, are most grateful and proud that the County Music Association has given June this well-deserved honor for her undeniable contribution to the fabric of Country Music and American culture.”

“You don’t dare dream of being in the Country Music Hall of Fame, alongside legends including George Jones, Willie Nelson, Alabama, even Dean Dillon,” says Chesney. “I’ve been lucky enough to get to call them my friends, and that was plenty. But hearing the news I’d been voted into the Hall, I can honestly say beyond my wildest dreams, it’s an honor that defies words. I am humbled, grateful, honored…as much for all the songwriters, musicians, artists and people who’ve helped me build my career; they have truly inspired me every single day.”

After nearly four years since his last studio album, Blake Shelton is back with For Recreational Use Only, his highly anticipated debut for BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, set for release May 9.

Leading the charge is the Top 10 hit single “Texas,” which has already resonated with fans and country radio alike, with People Magazine describing it as “rollicking.”

“It’s been a long time since we had a new album out, and I want to thank the songwriters and musicians who helped bring this record to life,” said Shelton. “Scott (Hendricks) and I have been working on this music for years, and I’m beyond excited to finally share it with the fans.”

The song “Let Him In Anyway,” available today, offers another powerful preview of the album. The emotionally gripping ballad tells the story of a man hoping for divine forgiveness for a lost friend who was just shy of redemption.

“‘Let Him In Anyway’ is one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever had the chance to record,” said Shelton. “Hardy is a co-writer and a friend, and I’ve never heard a song like this before. When I first listened to it, I knew it was something special. It’s an honor to bring it to life, and I’m incredibly proud of the record we made.”

Spanning 12 tracks, For Recreational Use Only captures life’s highs and lows with authentic storytelling, raw emotion, and unforgettable melodies. The album also features special guest appearances from superstar Gwen Stefani, country legend John Anderson, and longtime friend and tourmate Craig Morgan.

Currently on the road with his sold-out Friends & Heroes Tour, Shelton is joined by an all-star lineup, including Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, Trace Adkins, and Emily Ann Roberts. The tour is more than just a concert—it’s a magical, multigenerational celebration of country music, bringing together legendary voices and rising stars for an unforgettable night of music and storytelling.

With For Recreational Use Only, Blake Shelton reaffirms his place as one of country music’s most compelling voices, delivering a deeply personal and universally resonant album.

Multi-Platinum entertainer and “born showman” (Music Row) Russell Dickerson launched his RUSSELLMANIA TOUR this weekend, kicking off an electrifying run of shows in his hometown of Nashville, TN on Friday (3/14), followed by a performance in Atlanta, GA on Saturday (3/15).

The weekend featured Dickerson performing fan favorites like “God Gave Me A Girl,” “Home Sweet,” “Yours,” and a sing-along performance of his powerful rising single “Happen To Me,” along with many more. Nashville fans were also treated to special guest appearances from award-winning singer/songwriter Carly Pearce, who joined him for a duet of Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley’s “Whiskey Lullaby,” and rising country star Dylan Marlowe, who performed his hit “Back Home Boys.” Opener Jake Scott also joined Dickerson for a performance of their hit “She Likes It” before closing the show with the 2X Platinum hit “Blue Tacoma” and a burst of confetti.

Dickerson’s new song “Happen To Me” made a significant impact on country radio following its release on 2/21. Praised as his “best song to date” by Country Swag, the high-energy anthem achieved the biggest streaming debut week of Dickerson’s career and in Triple Tigers label history. With over 13.9 million global streams and more than 32.3 million views across social media, Music Row calls it “a good-time banger with energy that doesn’t let up. Perfect for a springtime playlist.” Written by Dickerson, Chase McGill, Jessie Jo Dillon, Chris LaCorte and Robert Hazard, the track blends catchy rhythms and infectious lyrics to capture the excitement and carefree spirit of a spontaneous night out.

Catch Dickerson on his high-energy RUSSELLMANIA TOUR 2025 on the road this spring and summer, with Jake Scott and Niko Moon joining the fun on select dates.

RUSSELLMANIA TOUR 2025 Dates
3/20 Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live SOLD OUT *
3/21 Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live SOLD OUT *
3/22 Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis SOLD OUT *
3/28 Madison, WI – The Sylvee SOLD OUT *
3/29 Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe *
4/3 Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom *
4/4 Salt Lake City, UT – The Union
4/5 Garden City, ID – Revolution Concert House *
6/5 New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 *^
6/6 Asbury, NJ – Stone Pony Summerstage *^
6/7 Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion *^
6/13 Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater *^
6/14 Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amp *^

• Jake Scott
  ^ Niko Moon

About Russell Dickerson:
Muliti-Platinum artist and all-in performer Russell Dickerson made a name for himself as an “ace songwriter” (Billboard) full of “unstoppable energy fans can’t get enough of” (E! News). After bursting onto the scene, the Tennessee native quickly stood out by releasing four consecutive career-launching singles that each reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. Since then, Dickerson has earned platinum or multi-platinum status on hits like “Yours” (3X Platinum), “Blue Tacoma” (2X Platinum), “Every Little Thing” (Platinum), “Love You Like I Used To” (Platinum), and “She Likes It” ft. Jake Scott (2X Platinum). In 2023, he scored his fifth No. 1 hit with “God Gave Me A Girl,” followed by the release of “Good Day to Have a Great Day,” “Bones” and his latest single “Happen To Me” which marked the biggest debut of his career, notching over 9 million global streams in the first week. Known for his electric performances, Dickerson will hit the road this year on the RUSSELLMANIA TOUR 2025, extending into amphitheaters this summer, with direct support from Jake Scott and Niko Moon on select dates..