Tonight, it’s Part 2 of the Judge Cuts on America’s Got Talent with Reba McEntire as the Guest Judge.
Kelsea Ballerini Helps CMT Launch Next Women of Country Live – Unveiled Tuesday (July 12), the new shareable series kicked off the first of 20 artists with a haunting acoustic performance of Ballerini’s ballad “Peter Pan” filmed live at CMT’s Nashville studio. Each week, the network will reveal exclusive fresh performances from its roster of Next Women, a franchise that helps to raise the profile of female artists. Each week, another fierce female on the rise will be featured through exclusive performances and interviews. Cassadee Pope, Maren Morris, Clare Dunn, Cam, Kelleigh Bannen, RaeLynn, Mickey Guyton, Jana Kramer, Lauren Alaina, Maggie Rose, Brooke Eden, Lucie Silvas, Lindsay Ell, Carly Pearce, Brandy Clark, Ruthie Collins, Danielle Bradbery, Tara Thompson and Courtney Cole will all appear on future installments of Next Women of Country Live. – Read more at CMT.com
‘American Idol’ Winner Trent Harmon Defends Country Cred – “Country has always been what I was most comfortable doing, because it’s what I sang the most of when I was home,” he explains. “You’re kinda playing the game when you’re on one of these shows. It was so expected of me to sing country, especially for the very first audition. . . When I walked in, they were playing “Green Acres.” So I thought, OK, let’s flip it. So I sang a jazz song.” “I want to get it out as fast as possible, but I also want a quality product,” he says. “I don’t want to get it out just to get a product on the shelf. With country music, you have to maintain and create close-knit relationships with radio stations. If I were to just put an album out, there’s no one to play it! You have to pay your dues.” – Read more at Rolling Stone Country
Pickler’s reality: She likes to inspire fun – “I love television; I love the idea of being able to make people smile. I love comedy,” said Pickler on a break from the road at her home in Nashville, Tenn. Pickler will headline the Stanislaus County Fair on Friday, July 15, to kick off its final weekend. Still it’s Pickler’s time in front of the cameras that may be her most memorable. This past April she returned to the stage that made her famous as part of the final episode of “American Idol.” She said coming full circle with the show was wonderful, but also bittersweet. “That was the show that changed my life and so many other people’s lives as well. So it was good we were all able to go back and share the stage together one last time,” she said. – Read more at the Modesto Bee
Kellie Pickler at Linn County Fair – How have opportunities like this and “Dancing with the Stars” influenced your music career? “Dancing with the Stars” was really one of the most incredible things I’ve ever been a part of. It challenged me and helped me with my stage presence. I was so used to being able to tell a story through the form of a song. Doing “Dancing with the Stars” they taught me how to tell a story through the art of dance. It helped build my confidence. I think any time you can push yourself and just grow as a person, it helps every other aspect in your life. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I loved it. – Read more at Lebanon-Express
Zayn Malik Says an Alien Told Him to Quit One Direction – First time you realized you wanted to break off from 1D and go off on your own? An alien spoke to me in a dream….?(Pretty sure Zayn is trolling…) – Read more at Glamour
