Maren Morris shares photos from son Hayes’ first birthday party

Posted on March 22, 2021 by ABC Audio

ABCMaren Morris and Ryan Hurd headed into Mr. McGregor’s garden for son Hayes‘ first birthday party.

On Sunday, the Grammy Award winner shared photos on her Instagram Stories from the one-year-old’s party that shows the couple’s home decked out in balloons and many Peter Rabbit themed decorations.

On the cabinet door hangs a wooden sign that reads “Welcome to Mr. McGregor’s Garden No Rabbits Allowed,” along with a white and baby blue balloon archway and a table filled with confections, including beautiful floral-frosting cupcakes with paper cutouts of the characters perched on top.

The party was complete with a “bomb” carrot cake from Nashville cake shop The Flour Flower Bakery. Maren shared a photo of the infant hacking into the cake while she holds a cupcake up to his face that’s almost as big as his head.

Maren previously shared that she’s been reading Peter Rabbit to her son since he was a newborn. Hayes officially turns one on March 23.

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Shania Twain says her Elton John collab is among her “favorite things I’ve ever done”

Posted on March 18, 2021 by ABC Audio

CBS via Getty ImagesShania Twain reviews some of the most memorable duets of her career on a new episode of her Apple Music show Home Now, and at the top of the list is a team-up with none other than pop legend Elton John.

“Elton John is an artist that I grew up listening to, and learning how to write songs from. I would study his songs, and he’s a remarkable musician,” Shania explains, describing Elton as “one of my big, big, big heroes.”

The pair first teamed up in 1999 for “Amneris’ Letter,” from the 2000 Broadway musical Aida, the music for which was written by Elton. Performing the song brought out some stage jitters, Shania admits.

“It was quite high in my range, so…I was a little nervous to attempt it,” the singer remembers. However, she adds that Elton made her feel at ease.

“He’s just so friendly and very supportive. So anyway, I gave it a go, and it’s one of the favorite things that I’ve ever done,” Shania continues. “So I recorded the song with him onstage. He’s playing piano, and of course the song is from Aida Broadway soundtrack, and it was a very special moment for me.”

During that same 1999 Miami show, the pair performed two power ballads from each of their catalogues: Shania’s “You’re Still the One” and Elton’s “Something About the Way You Look Tonight.”

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The quick gold fox jumps over the lazy dog

Posted on March 17, 2021 by ABC Audio

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The quick white fox jumps over the lazy dog

Posted on March 17, 2021 by ABC Audio

The quick blue fox jumps over the lazy dog

Posted on March 17, 2021 by ABC Audio

The quick silver fox jumps over the lazy dog

Posted on March 17, 2021 by ABC Audio

The quick green fox jumps over the lazy dog

Posted on March 17, 2021 by ABC Audio

Maren Morris says son Hayes’ first birthday party theme will be “Peter Rabbit”: “He’s just perfection”

Posted on March 16, 2021 by ABC Audio

ABCAs Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd prepare for their son Hayes‘ first birthday, the couple is centering the theme around a classic childhood book that holds special meaning to them.

The crossover country star reveals that they plan to host a party set on Beatrix Potter‘s classic book, Peter Rabbit. “That’s the book I read to him since he was a newborn,” Maren shares with People.

She also says that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the gathering will be kept to an intimate gathering with family. “Obviously, we’re going to have a very just a family-oriented party, we can’t do the full invitation thing, but we’re going to have a theme,” Maren says.

Though he’s still in the crawling stages, Maren says that Hayes is “so close” to walking. “But I’m not in any rush on that, either, because I’ll be chasing him around even more,” she adds. “He’s just perfection.”

Maren and Ryan welcomed Hayes on March 23, 2020. The couple recently released the duet, “Chasing After You.”

By Cillea Houghton
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Grammys 2021: The backstage scene

Posted on March 15, 2021 by ABC Audio

Courtesy Recording AcademySunday night at the socially-distanced Grammys, artists spoke to reporters via Zoom, rather than in person. While some noted that it was an unusual year, it didn’t take away the thrill of winning the music industry’s most coveted award.

“It’s a normal year, we’re out on the road…so you’re feeling the love one-on-one with your fans every single night,” said Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, who won Best Country Duo/Performance for their Justin Bieber collaboration “10,000 Hours.”

“But…this year has been super tough for our industry as a whole, and you aren’t able to feel the connection,” he noted. “You might have a hit song. You might have a song that climbs the charts…but you’re not feeling the fans singing back to you every single night. So to be acknowledged by our peers…to have tangible evidence of the success and the connection to that song is really cool.“

Dua Lipa, who won Best Pop Vocal Album for her hit release Future Nostalgia, was cheered by the fact that so many women took home awards this year. Indeed, female artists won in all of the “Big Four” categories: Record, Song and Album of the Year, and Best New Artist.

“I feel like there’s been a lot of female empowerment…and so it’s been absolutely amazing to be alongside all that and feel that energy,” she noted.

Along those same lines, Miranda Lambert, who won Best Country Album for Wildcard, noted that every nominee in that category was either a woman, or a female-fronted act.

“It’s really cool,” she told reporters. “To me, it felt like whoever won, we are winning for each other and for Nashville, you know what I mean?…This isn’t just mine. This is ours, especially as a group of women.“

H.E.R., winner of Song of the Year for “i can’t breathe,” said she felt that the track — inspired by the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, would continue to resonate through the years.

“I hope that it’s a tribute to the movement and that it will continue the fight and it will continue to give people hope, because I think that’s what music does,” she said. “It’s so much bigger than this.”

And Harry Styles, who generated over a million tweets Sunday night for his performance of “Watermelon Sugar” and his subsequent win for Best Pop Solo Performance, summed up how a lot of artists feel getting awards for their work.

“I feel incredibly lucky to get to work in music and make music as my job,” he said, reacting to his first Grammy win. “This is an incredibly sweet icing on the cake of what I get to do every day.”

By Andrea Dresdale
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Grammys 2021: The complete winners list

Posted on March 15, 2021 by ABC Audio

The Recording AcademyThe 63rd Annual Grammy Awards aired Sunday night on CBS, hosted by Trevor Noah.

Here is the complete list of winners in the major categories:

Record of the Year
“Everything I Wanted” by Billie Eilish

Album of the Year
Folklore by Taylor Swift

Song of the Year
“I Can’t Breathe” by Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)

Best New Artist
Megan Thee Stallion

POP

Best Pop Solo Performance
“Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Rain On Me” by Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
American Standard by James Taylor

Best Pop Vocal Album
Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa

ROCK/ALTERNATIVE

Best Rock Performance
“Shameika” by Fiona Apple

Best Metal Performance
“Bum-Rush” by Body Count

Best Rock Song
“Stay High” by Brittany Howard

Best Rock Performance
“Shameika” by Fiona Apple

Best Rock Song
“Stay High” by Brittany Howard

Best Rock Album
The New Abnormal by The Strokes Alternative

Best Alternative Music Album
Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

R&B/RAP

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
“Black Parade” by Beyoncé

Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Anything For You” by Ledisi

Best R&B Song
“Better Than I Imagined” by Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Robert Glasper feat. H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello)

Best Progressive R&B Album
It Is What It Is by Thundercat

Best R&B Album
Bigger Love by John Legend

Best Rap Performance
“Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé

Best Melodic Rap Performance
“Lockdown” by Anderson .Paak

Best Rap Song
“Savage” by Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White, songwriters (Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé)

Best Rap Album
King’s Disease by Nas

COUNTRY

Best Country Solo Performance
“When My Amy Prays” by Vince Gill

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“10,000 Hours” by Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber

Best Country Song
“Crowded Table” by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna, songwriters (The Highwomen)

Best Country Album
Wildcard by Miranda Lambert

DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Best Dance Recording
“10%” by Kaytranada feat. Kali Uchis

Best Dance/Electronic Album
BUBBA by Kaytranada

GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
“There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams & Dolly Parton; Casey Beathard, Jonathan Smith & Zach Williams, songwriters

Best Gospel Album
Gospel According to PJ by PJ Morton

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Jesus Is King by Kanye West

Best Roots Gospel Album
Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album) by Fisk Jubilee Singers

LATIN

Best Latin Pop or Urban Album
YHLQMDLG by Bad Bunny

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
La Conquista del Espacio by Fito Paez

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Un Canto Por Mexico, Vol. 1 by Natalia Lafourcade

Best Tropical Latin Album
40 by Grupo Niche

COMEDY

Best Comedy Album
Black Mitzvah by Tiffany Haddish

MUSICAL THEATER

Best Musical Theater Album
Jagged Little Pill (Glen Ballard, composer; Alanis Morissette, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)

MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Jojo Rabbit (Various Artists) Taika Waititi, compilation producer

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
Joker by Hildur Guðnadóttir, composer

Best Song Written For Visual Media
“No Time to Die” by Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas Baird O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish) Track from: No Time to Die

MUSIC VIDEO/FILM

Best Music Video
“Brown Skin Girl” Beyoncé, Blue Ivy & WizKid
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Jenn Nkiru, video directors; Astrid Edwards, Aya Kaida, Jean Mougin, Nathan Scherrer & Erinn Williams, video producers

Best Music Film
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Linda Ronstadt Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman, video directors; Michele Farinola & James Keach, video producers

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.