Church, Stapleton tie for CMA nods
Country stars Chris Stapleton and Eric Church will go toe-to-toe with each other at this year’s Country Music Association Awards, with both vying in the same five categories, including entertainer of the year.
In nominations announced Thursday, Stapleton has nominations in male vocalist, album of the year, single and song of the year, and could take home additional trophies as producer both on his album and single. Church, who put out a three-part album in April collectively called “Heart & Soul,” also earned five nominations.
They join Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Luke Combs as nominees for entertainer of the year. Lambert, who is also nominated for female vocalist and musical event, was already the most nominated female artist in CMA history and now ties with Brad Paisley for third in overall nominations, the CMA said in a release.
Gabby Barrett had a good year with the success of the No. 1 hit country song “The Good Ones,” and she earned four nominations for female artist of the year, new artist, single and song of the year.
Disgraced country star Morgan Wallen, who was caught earlier this year yelling a racial slur, still got enough votes to secure a nomination for album of the year for his “Dangerous: The Double Album.” The CMA Board of Directors previously announced that Wallen would be disqualified for individual awards, but would be eligible for awards that honor an artistic work.
The CMA Awards will air Nov. 10 on ABC.
Wonder to headline Global Citizen Live in LA: Stevie Wonder will
headline Global Citizen Live’s 24-hour event in
Los Angeles this month to help raise awareness around poverty, climate change and the need for more access to COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide.
Global Citizen officials announced Thursday that Wonder will be among several performers — including H.E.R., Adam Lambert and Demi Lovato — to take part in the event at The Greek Theatre on Sept. 25. The event will air the next day on ABC.
Global Citizen Live will take place on six continents. Along with Los Angeles, performances and segments will happen in London, New York
City, Paris, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and Lagos, Nigeria.
Actor Constantine dies:
Michael Constantine,
94, a character actor who reached worldwide fame playing the Windex bottle-toting father of the bride in the 2002 film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” has died. He died Aug. 31 at his Pennsylvania home of
natural causes, his family said.
Constantine made appearances on numerous TV shows, but his big break came as a principal on “Room 222,” an ABC comedy-drama set in a racially diverse Los Angeles high school, for which he won an Emmy for outstanding performance by an actor in a supporting role in 1970.
However, he became best known for his work in the indie comedy “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Constantine reprised his role on the TV series “My Big Fat Greek Life” and in the 2016 film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.”
Sept. 10 birthdays: Actor Philip Baker Hall is 90. Singer Jose Feliciano is
76. Guitarist Joe Perry is
71. Actor Amy Irving is 68. Director Chris Columbus is 63. Singer Siobhan Fahey is 63. Actor Colin Firth is
61. Rapper Big Daddy Kane is 53. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 47. Ballerina Misty Copeland is 39. Actor Hannah Hodson is 30.