MUSIC NEWS: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
CHRIS STAPLETON - ACM AWARDS
Chris Stapleton now has the most nominations going into the Academy of Country Music Awards. He found out yesterday that he had two tacked on to the five he received earlier. The new nods are biggies: song of the year and songwriter of the year _ and are both for his tune, ``Nobody to Blame.''
Stapleton has seven nominations in all _ most of any artist going into the April 3rd ceremony in Nashville.
ACM SONGWRITING NOMINATIONS
Grammy-winner singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton earned two extra nominations from the Academy of Country Music Awards, making him the leading nominee with seven nods.
The ACM announced on Thursday the nominees for the song of the year and songwriter categories. Stapleton, who had five nominations in previously announced categories, added two more for his song ``Nobody to Blame,'' as co-writer and artist.
Other nominees include ``Burning House,'' co-written and performed by Cam; ``Girl Crush,'' performed by Little Big Town; ``Raise 'Em Up,'' performed by Keith Urban and Eric Church; and ``She Don't Love You,'' co-written and performed by Eric Paslay.
Songwriter of the year nominees include Rodney Clawson, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne.
The ACM Awards will air live on April 3 on CBS.
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KANYE WEST - DRAKE
Kanye West has taken a break from ranting on Twitter to thank Toronto rapper Drake for helping with his new album. West tweeted his thanks to Drizzy for helping with the songs
``30 Hours'' and ``Father Stretch My Hands.'' Drake is credited as a co-writer on two new West songs, including ``30 Hours,'' under his real name, Aubrey Graham. Another Torontonian, the Weeknd, co-wrote the song ``F-M-L.'' West's new album, ``The Life of Pablo,'' was released over the weekend on Jay-Z's streaming service.
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SHAKIRA - MOTHERHOOD
What is Shakira's toughest role of all _ being a recording star, a budding actress or running a successful foundation to help underprivileged kids? For her, it's being a mom.
She says being a parent is ``the biggest challenge'' she has ever been presented with. Shakira says she has to work on developing her personality as a mother _ even as she tries to balance her personal and professional life. Shakira stars in ``Zootopia'' as a character named Gazelle, someone she describes as being just like her.
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DARYL HALL - PROJECT
Daryl Hall is looking to expand his musical empire. The man who was half of Hall & Oates owns a restaurant in New York State that doubles as a music venue. Now, he wants to add an outdoor stage to the facility in the town of Pawling _ located 100-kilometres north of New York City. The Poughkeepsie Journal reports Hall plans to build a stage behind the eatery to hold concerts on a lawn that can hold more than 1,000 people. The first show is set for May _ but the project isn't officially a go. Town officials say the project is under review and hasn't received final approval.
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NICK CARTER - FRIEND BUSTED
A friend of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter is in trouble. His pal has been charged with knocking a man unconscious at Dodger Stadium after a game last October. Prosecutors have charged Michael Rae Papayans with felony assault. They say he punched a New York Mets fan after Game 1 of the National League playoffs at Dodger Stadium _ and the man was knocked unconscious after hitting his head on the parking lot pavement. Carter wasn't involved in the incident, but the two were arrested in Florida after a January bar fight in Florida. Papayans is free on bail. If convicted, he could get seven years in prison.
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POLICE OFFICER - MUSIC VIDEO
A white Missouri police officer has been placed on unpaid leave after he appeared in a racially charged music video. St. Joseph patrolman Zackary Craft is seen in the clip wearing his uniform and carrying a sign reading ``cops lives matter.'' The video also shows him reaching for his gun in the video for ``Before This Bomb Blows Up (Racism Goes Both Ways).'' It's done by a white rapper who performs as J. Smitty _ and who spits on or breaks images of prominent African-Americans. An attorney for the officer says Craft let himself be filmed without knowing what the project is about _ and was ``appalled'' when he saw the video.
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(The Associated Press)