NASHVILLE – Artists from across the Country Music community are celebrating the golden anniversary of the CMA Awards by recording legendary CMA Award-winning songs and posting them to YouTube for their fans.
“This is a great opportunity for the fans to experience and discover the rich heritage of the format by hearing these classic songs performed by contemporary and legendary artists,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships.
The project provides artists a platform to perform a cover of a CMA Award-winning song from the past 50 years. Covers include: “There Goes My Everything,” which was the first Song of the Year in 1967; “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” Song of the Year in 1970; “Always on My Mind,” Song of the Year in 1982; “When I Call Your Name,” Song of the Year in 1991; and “I Hope You Dance,” which won Song of the Year in 2000.
The 45 artists participating in this historical retrospective include former CMA Awards nominees and winners John Berry, T. Graham Brown, Deana Carter, Mark Chesnutt, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Billy Ray Cyrus, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Jo Dee Messina, John Michael Montgomery, Lorrie Morgan, Eric Paslay, Collin Raye, Shenandoah, Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner, Steve Wariner, Amanda and Tyler Wilkinson, Mark Wills, and Lee Ann Womack; in addition to a long list of up and coming talent that includes Lauren Alaina, Kane Brown, Dustin Lynch, Jon Pardi, Michael Ray, and Drake White.
The project is an extension of “Forever Country,” a global phenomenon featuring 30 former CMA Award-winning acts performing three Country classics: John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” The single and companion music video have been topping radio and sales charts around the globe.
“This project was the perfect vehicle to include great artists who have and continue to represent Country Music throughout the last 50 years and to celebrate this historic anniversary of the CMA Awards by honoring some of the most defining songs of our genre,” said Universal Music Group Nashville President Cindy Mabe. UMGN Universal Music Group Nashville is exclusively partnering with CMA to market and distribute “Forever Country” worldwide.
The new covers of Country classics are rolling out now at ForeverCountry50.com, with at least one new song being added each day through Wednesday, Nov. 2 and the broadcast of “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” on the ABC Television Network.
For more information on “Forever Country” visit ForeverCountry50.com. For more information on “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” and to sign up for CMA emails and exclusives, visit CMAawards50.com. Celebrate Country Music Month in October.
