News Round Up: Country Music Is Dead (RIP Johnny Cash)

• Has the monetary success of  Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson allowed mainstream Nashvegas artists, Like Tim McGraw,  to explore their dark side? (Country’s Raw Side: Don’t Like It? Tough! – New York Times)

• The 9513′s Matt Griffin draws comparisons to Levon Helm’s newest release, Electric Dirt,  and  Johnny Cash’s latter career reviving American Recordings.

• The Academy of Country Music has chosen the The Ryman Auditorium as the Venue of the Year. Special awards to be presented at the 2nd Annual ACM Honors, scheduled for September 22 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, will be the Jim Reeves International Award to Dolly Parton, the Mae Boren Axton Award to David Young, the Poet’s Award to Merle Haggard and Harlan Howard. Lee Ann Womack will host the evenand there will be special performances by Bobby Bare, Vince Gill, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Jim Lauderdale and Patty Loveless.

• The Country Music Association Awards announced the nominees for their 43rd annual awards ceremony. All the usual suspects, Paisley (leading with 6 nominations),  Chesney, Swift, Urban. A nod to tradition  – George Strait. Some black horses added – Joey + Rory for Vocal Duo Of The Year and The Raconteurs with Ricky Skaggs and Adhely Monroe performing the song Old Enough as the Musical Event Of The Year (?) Duller than the Grammys I say. Tune in to see Jamey Johnson perform and try to refrain throwing things at the TV when Kid Rock takes the stage.

• Johnny Cash dies On this Day, 2003, at Nashville’s Baptist Hospital, of complications from diabetes, 4 months after death of wife, June Carter.

Related posts:

1. News Round Up: New Releases by John Prine, Johnny Cash Art Collective
2. News Round Up: Johnny Cash Graphic Novel & Do You Look Like Tanya Tucker?
3. News Round Up: Jamey Johnson Pays Respect
4. News Round Up: New Johnny Cash Recording in February
5. News Round Up:Jim Lauderdale Will Help Push Your Car