Headlines: Laine Hardy Opry Debut, CMT Awards Shifts to April

CBS Schedules CMT Music Awards for April 2022, Setting Up Challenge to ACM Awards – The network announced Thursday morning that it had scheduled its first airing of the CMT Music Awards for April 3, 2022, a declaration that follows quickly on the heels of ViacomCBS’ surprise revelation June 29 that the premiere of the annual awards show would be moving from its cable namesake, CMT, to its much larger broadcast sister. The next move in this chess game may be the Academy of Country Music’s, as the org negotiates with other networks and determines whether to hold on to a spring slot or move to another time of year. Negotiations for a renewal between the ACMs and CBS were said to have broken down after the show’s producer, Dick Clark Productions, reportedly asked for $22 million a year to reup the deal. ViacomCBS chose to instead move a less veteran, home-grown show, the CMTs, into that slot and devote its resources into a potential tentpole it fully owns. The Academy of Country Music is reported to have been in negotiation with NBC, which does not have a country awards show on its lineup at present. (The CMT Awards traditionally airs on Cable in June)- Read more at Variety

Laine Hardy makes his Grand Ole Opry Debut on August 28

American Idol 2020 alum Francisco Martin Fall Tour Tickets on Sale July 9

WABC/N.Y. to Launch New Show with Constantine Maroulis – WABC-AM/New York will launch a new variety entertainment program with two-time Tony nominated artist Constantine Maroulis. “The Constantine Maroulis Show – Cuz Saturday Night Rocks!” will air Saturdays from 5-6pm, beginning Saturday, July 10. Maroulis will also join the station as 77 WABC Radio’s Entertainment Reporter. On Mondays and Fridays, Maroulis’s Entertainment Reports will be heard on Bernie & Sid In The Morning and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, he will deliver a weekend-focused segment, “Pop Rocks 60.” – Read more at News.Radio-Online

Pittsburgh CLO scores a touchdown with 75th anniversary celebration at Heinz Field – American Idol alumni Clay Aiken, originally slated to star in The Drowsy Chaperone this July at the Benedum Center before the pandemic forced the CLO to cancel their original season line-up, is now hosting Broadway Musical Celebration, and both shows will be accompanied by the Pittsburgh CLO Orchestra. The unorthodox venue will hold up to 4,000 guests, including tables and chairs directly on the field in front of the stage. CLO’s original production Broadway Musical Celebration follows Oz, launching on Wed., July 21 and continuing through July 24. It’s a 90-minute ode to Broadway featuring iconic numbers and medlies from a variety of popular Broadway musicals, such as Mamma Mia, In the Heights, The Color Purple, and An American in Paris. – Read more at PhgCityPaper

Scotty McCreery takes songs from upcoming album on the road for retooled show – He will be introducing songs from his newest album, which will be released late this year. It’s the follow-up to “Seasons Change” (2018), which featured the hits “Five More Minutes,” “This Is It” and “In Between.” The upcoming album, McCreery says, is definitely country, and he already knows one song that will be a hit: “You Time,” which he wrote in 2019. “I kept coming back to it,” he says. “A year later I was coming back to it. – read more at St. Louis Dispatch

‘American Idol’ star to help reopen Bay Area concert scene – The title is called “Jesus People.” And in these times of very divisiveness, there were some people who had a hard time with me naming my album “Jesus People” – because it’s very polarizing. Or some people don’t believe in Jesus or some people think he’s caused the problem – the rift. Really, Christians — we’ve been misunderstood, I believe. And where people want to say that we’re the problem, I want the church to rise up and say, “Hey, let it be known how your life has changed because of Jesus.” – Read more at MercuryNews

Dancing His Way Onto Hollywood’s Walk of Fame: Nigel Lythgoe Reflects on Storied Career – He is unabashedly thrilled about receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 11:30 a.m. July 9, a ceremony that was postponed twice because of COVID. The live ceremony will be at 6258 Hollywood Blvd. “When you think of a dockworker’s son achieving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame …” he trails off momentarily as he considers how remarkable his path has been. Then, Lythgoe quickly returns to producer mode with an idea on how to improve matters. “I guess I am going to get a little television on my star,” he says. “I would have much preferred a pair of tap shoes or ballet shoes.” – Read more at Variety

Singer John Park to put out new album after 8 years – Singer John Park is gearing up to drop his new mini-album, “outbox,” on July 12, eight years after the release of his previous album. Park’s record label Music Farm took to its official Twitter Wednesday to share a list of the songs that will be offered in the upcoming release. The album, which will be led by the song, “now, us, here,” features three other tracks, including “strangers.” “Park composed all four songs,” Music Farm said in a statement, Thursday. Park, an American singer of Korean descent, first became known to the public on the ninth season of “American Idol” in 2010. In the same year, he appeared on Mnet’s popular audition program, “Superstar K2,” and finished second. – Read more at Korean Times

Maks & Val Chmerkovskiy on 30 Seasons of ‘DWTS’ and New Live Show – We’re going into the 30th season of DWTS. Looking back, how does it feel to be part of its legacy, and how it has brought attention to dance? Maks: In the beginning, most of us weren’t looking at it as a big thing. Some of us were still competing for world titles. We had no intention of being a part of this. It felt like selling out for some sort of TV project. If we knew then what we knew now about what this would have become, there would be a line of thousands of dancers applying. That is what it created. It created an avenue. It opened doors to So You Think You Can Dance and others. It became a career. We didn’t have this before. Regardless of what it seems like with my relationship with Dancing With the Stars, I’m not going to dwell on that. But I’m personally one of the biggest, if not the biggest fan of the show. I will do anything I can contribute to see it stay on TV because it’s very important to our industry. – Read more at TVInsider

About mj santilli 35161 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!