Carrie Underwood & Jason Aldean Sang the Hell Out of ‘If I Didn’t Love You’ at 2021 CMAs: Watch

Country heavy-hitters Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean hit Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 10) for the 2021 CMA Awards. Taking the stage together, the two powerhouses sang their hit duet “If I Didn’t Love You” live for the first time together anywhere. The moment was clearly a meaningful one for both, with Aldean and Underwood imbuing their vocals with a resonance and pain that was palpable.

Since its release this July, “If I Didn’t Love You” has certainly resonated with fans, topping the Country Airplay chart and notching the highest ever debut, No. 2, for a duet single between a male and female artist on Hot Country Songs (the chart dates back to 1958, so no small feat).

As forceful as their performance was, a special shout-out goes to Underwood’s outfit, which involved lavender tulle billowing out from her dress and seemed to float about her as she poured her heart out on stage.

Watch the full performance below:

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Blake Shelton Offers Fiery Live Debut of ‘Come Back As a Country Boy’ at 2021 CMA Awards

Blake Shelton came to the 2021 CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 10) ready to give fans something new with the live debut of his latest single, “Come Back As A Country Boy.”

Joined on stage by a prop windmill and a backdrop of roiling storm clouds, the country star roared his way through the fiery new track, declaring time and time again that should he be reincarnated, he has very specific plans for his return: “If my neck don’t come out red/ Then Lord just keep me dead,” he crooned. “‘Cause a country boy is all I know how to be.”

Dressed in all black, Shelton made sure that his darker theme got across to the crowd, with faux lightning crashing in the background and during the song’s riled-up guitar solo. “When I die, I wanna come back as a country boy,” he sang in front of a weathered fence. “No, there ain’t no better life if you ask me.”

The performance came just hours after Shelton officially unveiled his new music video for the single (written by “God’s Country” co-writers Michael Hardy and Jordan Schmidt), in which Shelton makes his declared wish a reality — as a meteor comes crashing to the earth, the country star emerges in flames, back to his life as the titular country boy.

Shelton wasn’t the only one at the 2021 CMA Awards to deliver some memorable performances — the evening saw performances from stars like Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown and others.

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Jimmie Allen Tearfully Accepts New Artist of the Year Award at 2021 CMAs

Jimmie Allen took home the new artist of the year award at the CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 10) — making him the first Black artist to win the honor since Darius Rucker in 2009.

Allen was overcome with emotion when his name was announced, and he launched into a touching speech that saw him tearfully reflecting on his humble beginnings that led to where he is in his career today.

“First, I want to thank my father who is no longer with us for introducing me to country music,” the 36-year-old started his speech. “Five years ago, I spent my last $100 to see the CMA 50th and see Charley Pride perform onstage. And I got to perform with him last year. Everyone who voted for me, thank you. My wife, my kids, my mother’s here, Ash Bower, my manager. Ash found me playing at a writers’ round at Puckett’s grocery store in Franklin [Tennessee]. And he signed me.

“After 10 years of being here, living in my car, living in a trailer, working every job, this is amazing,” he added. “Thanks to my PR company, my management group, my booking agency… Thank you country music. This is for my hometown in Delaware, I love you all.”

Allen took a brief moment to thank the other nominees for new artist of the year award, which included Ingrid Andress, Gabby Barrett, Mickey Guyton and HARDY. The “Best Shot” singer also took home a new male artist of the year at the ACM Awards earlier this year.

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T.J. Osborne Declares ‘Love Wins Tonight’ as Brothers Osborne Win Best Vocal Duo at 2021 CMAs

“It really does feel like love wins tonight, thank you,” T.J. Osborne of Brothers Osborne said following the family band’s win for vocal duo of the year at the 2021 Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night (Nov. 10).

Sharing the award with his brother and band member John Osborne, T.J. delivered an emotional speech as the duo accepted their trophy onstage at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

“I tell you, every time we have won this award it has never ceased to be extremely shocking,” T.J. Osborne said, accepting duo of the year for a fourth time at the CMA Awards. “Thanks to everyone who voted for us. It’s been a crazy roller coaster of a year for us in so many ways, especially for me emotionally, and to have you all support me, it really does feel like love wins tonight, thank you.”

John Osborne followed with his own words of support: “Give this boy a round of applause. We love this genre, we love the people, we love all of you so much.”

Following the win, T.J. Osborne was spotted kissing his boyfriend, Abi Ventura, whom reps confirmed has been dating T.J. for more than a year.

In February, T.J. came out as gay in an interview with Time — making him one of the few openly gay country artists to be signed to a major label (EMI Nashville).  Other queer artists include Brandi Carlile, Chely Wright and Shane McAnally, to name a few.

In his interview with Time, T.J. revealed how his identity has influenced his music. “I realize that it is a big part of who I am: The way I think, the way I act, the way I perform. God, think of all the times that we talk about love, and write about love. It’s the biggest thing we ever get to feel,” T.J. said. “I’ve done more than I ever thought I would. At this point, my happiness is more valuable than anything else I’d ever be able to achieve.”

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Miami-Dade Police to use baseball-like cards with QR codes to help solve vexing homicides

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At Miami airport, a deal for higher prices, higher wages and lease extensions

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Southern California’s Metropolitan Water District declares drought emergency

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Latest Astroworld Lawsuit Filed by Family of 9-Year-Old Boy ‘Trampled’ at Festival

The latest in a growing list of lawsuits against Travis Scott and other organizers of the deadly Astroworld music festival  last weekend was filed Tuesday (Nov. 9) by the family of a 9-year-old boy who is in a medically induced coma after he was “trampled nearly to death.”

In one of at least 18 cases that have been filed on behalf of victims of Friday night’s crowd surge incident, the family of a child identified as E.B. said the boy was “trampled nearly to death by other concertgoers” when fans pressed toward the stage.

“This young child and his family will face life-altering trauma from this day forward, a reality that nobody expects when they buy concert tickets,” said Benjamin Crump, the family’s attorney, in a statement. “Concerts and music festivals such as this are meant to be a safe place for people of all ages to enjoy music in a controlled environment. None of that was true about the Astroworld Festival.”

In addition to Scott, the lawsuit also named promotors Live Nation and ScoreMore as defendants, as well as many others involved in planning and operating Astroworld.

Friday’s deadly crush occurred during the first night of a two-day festival attended by more than 50,000 people at Houston’s NRG Park stadium complex. Witnesses report thousands of fans pressing toward the stage, causing a panicked stampede and making it difficult for some to breathe.

In total, the incident left eight dead and dozens seriously injured, in what appears to be one of the deadliest crowd disasters at a music event in years.

Most of the lawsuits filed over Astroworld thus far have been handled by Houston-area law firms, but Crump is a nationally-known attorney. He has handled a number of high-profile wrongful death cases, including Trayvon Martin, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, as well as litigation for victims of the Flint water crisis.

E.B., the child in Tuesday’s lawsuit attended Astroworld with his father, Treston Blount. As the crowd surged toward the stage, the lawsuit said Blount was “kicked, stepped on, and trampled, and nearly crushed to death.”

“As of the date of this filing, plaintiff E.B. remains hospitalized in critical condition, suffering from life-threatening injuries, which are likely to be catastrophic,” Crump wrote in the lawsuit.

Like other cases that have been filed against Scott and Live Nation, the lawsuit filed by the Blount family accuses the Astroworld organizers of negligence, claiming they “egregiously failed in their duty to protect the health, safety, and lives of those in attendance at the concert.”

The claim focuses on poor planning, but also on the decision to allow the show to continue after warning signs from the crown — and reportedly for more than 40 minutes after Houston officials had deemed the incident a “mass casualty” event.

“Many individuals were seen lifting up the unconscious bodies of friends and strangers and surfed them over the top of the crowd, hoping to send them to safety,” Crump wrote in the lawsuit. “Further, several individuals were shouting for help with CPR and pleading with Defendants to stop the concert.”

Live Nation, Scott and ScoreMore have not responded to requests for comment on the litigation.

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