Morris, Stapleton lead ACM nods
Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton are the leading nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards, but only Stapleton joined the all-male ballot for the top prize of entertainer of the year.
The academy announced Friday that Morris and Stapleton both had six nominations ahead of the April 18 awards show airing on CBS.
Women were left out of the top category as Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Luke Combs were also nominated for entertainer of the year. Miranda Lambert, who is already the most nominated artist in ACM history, stretched her streak with five nominations.
While women are absent from entertainer of the year, all five nominees for the single of the year are performed by women, a first for the ACM Awards.
Four Black artists — Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton and John Legend — are also nominated this year across all categories, another first for the ACM Awards.
Tyson slams Hulu series: Hulu announced it has ordered a limited series dramatizing the life of boxing great Mike Tyson, who quickly slammed the production as “cultural misappropriation.”
Hulu said Thursday that “Iron Mike” will explore “the wild, tragic and controversial life and career” of a polarizing athlete. Tyson, who is not involved in the project, criticized Hulu on social media, saying the series smacked of insensitivity.
Prince Harry says he didn’t walk away: Prince Harry rapped the theme song to the 1990s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” during a latenight talk show appearance in which he said he didn’t walk away from his royal duties.
During a segment on CBS’ “The Late, Late Show with James Corden” that aired early Friday, Harry said he decided to step away from his work as a front-line member of the royal family to protect his wife and son — and his mental health.
“It was stepping back rather than stepping down,” he told Corden. “It was a really difficult environment, which I think a lot of people saw, so I did what any father or husband would do and thought, ‘How do I get my family out of here?’ But we never walked away, and as far as I’m concerned, whatever decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away.”
The prince also offered a glimpse of the family’s life in California, where he and wife Meghan generally watch “Jeopardy!” and Netflix programs before going to bed. Son Archie’s first word was “crocodile,” Harry said.
British actor Pickup dies: Ronald Pickup, the renowned British stage actor who starred in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “Darkest Hour,” has died. Pickup, 80, died Wednesday after a long illness surrounded by his wife and family, his agent confirmed. The actor accrued more than 150 TV and film appearances during his five-plusdecade career.
Feb. 27 birthdays: Actor Joanne Woodward is 91. Actor Barbara Babcock is 84. Guitarist Neal Schon is 67. Singer Johnny Van Zant is 61. Actor Grant Show is 59. Actor Donal Logue is 55. Singer Chilli is 50. Singer Bobby V is 41. Singer Josh Groban is 40. Actor Kate Mara is 38. Reality show star Jenni “JWoww” Farley is 35.