And The Nominees Are......

2016 Country Music Association Awards Nominees

Entertainer of the Year

Garth Brooks
Luke Bryan
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban

Album of the Year (Awarded to Artist and Producers)

Hero, Maren Morris
Mr. Misunderstood, Eric Church
Storyteller, Carrie Underwood
Black, Dierks Bentley
Ripcord, Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year

Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Chris Stapleton
Dierks Bentley
Keith Urban

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Song of the Year (Awarded to Songwriters)

“Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw
“My Church,” Maren Morris
“Record Year,” Eric Church
“Burning House,” Cam

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Joey + Rory
Maddie & Tae

New Artist of the Year

Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
Cole Swindell

Single of the Year (Awarded to Artist and Producer)

“Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett
“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw
“My Church,” Maren Morris
“Nobody to Blame,” Chris Stapleton
“Record Year,” Eric Church

Musical Event of the Year

“Different for Girls,” Dierks Bentley feat. Elle King
“Home Alone Tonight,” Luke Bryan feat. Karen Fairchild
“The Fighter,” Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood
“Think of You,” Chris Young with Cassadee Pope
“You Are My Sunshine,” Morgane Stapleton with Chris Stapleton

Music Video of the Year (Awarded to Artist and Director)

“Fire Away,” Chris Stapleton
“Humble and Kind,” Tim McGraw
“Record Year,” Eric Church
“Somewhere on a Beach,” Dierks Bentley
“Burning House,” Cam

Colin Kaepernick: Which Side Are You On?

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick did not stand for the Star-Spangled Banner before the Niners - Packers game on Friday night. He told the NFL Network: ''I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder. This is not something that I am going to run by anybody. I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. If they take football away, my endorsements from me – I know that I stood up for what is right."

So what do you think? Certainly he has a right to his opinion, and his right to Freedom Of Speech says he can sit out the Anthem if he wants. Should we applaud his efforts to make a point, or criticize him for his lack of respect for the country that has given him so much? Drop me a line: john@kicks1063.com

Nashville To Return In January...But!

It's official. CMT has officially set January 5, 2017 as the premiere date for Season 5 of the TV drama Nashville. Nashville will be broadcast and streamed on CMT, and also streamed on Hulu, which currently carries the show’s previous seasons. Returning cast members include Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen, Lennon Stella, Maisy Stella, Chris Carmack, Hayden Panettiere and Connie Britton.

But get ready for a shocker, "Nashville" fans: Britton, who plays Rayna James may not return for Season 6, according to TVLine. She is now scheduled to be on only 10 of the 22 episodes of Season 5. Sources do not know how James’ character will be written off the show. TVLine also reports that negotiations are ongoing as to the length of her participation in Season 5. Hayden Panettiere, who portrays Juliette Barnes, will be back for all 22 episodes of the new season. Her fate was left hanging at the end of Season 4 when she was in an airplane crash.

Tell you what, as a big fan of the show, I don't see how it could continue without Britton as Rayna.

Pearls Before Swine Indeed!

A giant pearl, found by a fisherman in off the coast of Palawan Island, Phillippines, ten years ago, is in the process of being certified as the biggest natural pearl ever found. The fisherman, who had no idea what he had, kept the pearl in his home for 10 years ago. Recently the man’s home burned, and he took the pearl to the local tourism office in remote Puerto Princesca. They were able to verify that it had been found in a giant clam. The pearl measures one foot wide and just over two feet long. That is much larger than the world’s current largest pearl, the Pearl of Allah, which weighs 14 pounds and is worth 35 million dollars. It is on exhibition at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! in New York City. The new find is estimated to be worth 100 million dollars, and weighs 74 pounds! Actually, I'd like to see the clam this beast came out of!

Can Anyone Explain This To Me?

In my job, I have to keep up on all the latest trends. That way I can talk with some authority on what's happening in the world of entertainment, politics, whatever. But for the love of God, can someone please explain this one to me!?!

James Holt and Jordan Parke are both huge Kim Kardashian fans, so much so that they have had their features altered to look like her. The pair live just miles apart in Manchester, England, and were featured in the news there after they had either lip fillers and/or surgery to change their appearance. Now a spat has broken out between Holt and Parke, and it has made its way to social media. It all started when Holt posted a copy of an article about him which also featured Jordan. Holt apparently was not happy with the comparison.Holt posted on Facebook, “I’m happy for a two-page spread in America like anyone would be, obv. But why are they trying to make that Jordan relevant in the corner of my story. It’s so annoying and I’ve never had one procedure to look like Kim Kardashian.”

Parke’s answer: “When someone hates you and you unknowingly pop up and steal the limelight #ByeBoo #OftenImitatedNeverDuplicated.”

Parke was the first of the two to have lip fillers to look more like Kardashian. He has also had cosmetic surgery, including a nose job, chin implants, cheek fillers and botox, according to “The Mirror.” Holt also had lip fillers done a couple years later. Holt has since deleted his posts about the argument and has refused to talk about the spat between the two.

All I can say is "What?" And "Why". And is it just me, or does the guy on the left look like he's got a set of those wax lips we had when we were kids?

How Would You Rate La Crosse?

It could be a friendly hello, a warm smile or someone asking if they can help you, but it all makes for a nicer visit when you are in a strange city. “Travel & Leisure” has chosen the 20 Friendliest Cities in America. In the latest America’s Favorite Places survey, readers ranked more than 400 cities and towns on 70 different features, from the best burgers and wine bars to festivals and free attractions for all ages. Survey voters also weighed in on the locals, ranking them for their apparent quirkiness, hotness, or charming geekiness.

The top 20 winners for hospitable locals tended to score well in user-friendly categories like affordability and walkability. These same places also tended to be smaller cities with gold stars for warm, sunny weather—an equation that would leave a lasting impression with anyone, local or visitor.

Here are the cities ranking Top 20, from 20 to number 1:

20) New Orleans, Louisiana
19) Albuquerque, New Mexico
18) Columbus, Ohio
17) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
16) Norfolk, Virginia
15) Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
14) Memphis, Tennessee
13) Honolulu, Hawaii
12) Charleston, South Carolina
11) Savannah, Georgia
10) Indianapolis, Indiana
9) Kansas City, Missouri
8) Raleigh, North Carolina
7) Fort Worth, Texas
6) Buffalo, New York
5) Nashville, Tennessee
4) Knoxville, Tennessee
3) Madison, Wisconsin
2) Houston, Texas
1) San Antonio, Texas

Hot Enough For Ya?

The heatwave we're gonna have the next couple of days is hard on our bodies, our moods, and our electric bills. Don’t let the temperature get you down, though. These ten tips will help you keep cool even if it feels like the sun is out to get you.

10. Drink More Water: You know how important it is to stay hydrated all year round. When you’re sweating a lot, either because of exercise or the summer heat, drinking enough water becomes even more important. As the CDC suggests, think of your body like an air conditioner. As with other hydration myths, water isn’t your only option, but it’s free and easily accessible for most of us. Even if you have to trick yourself into drink more water and learn to love the taste of it, you’ll be much more comfortable if you keep refilling your water glass.

9. Keep Excessive Sweat at Bay: For many of us, sweat-inducing humidity is the worst part of summer. Even if you don’t have excessive sweat issues, you can get the sweating under control with a few tricks, like applying antiperspirant at night so it works more effectively and wearing breathable clothing materials, such as cotton.

8. Make a DIY Air Conditioner: Running the AC the entire summer gets expensive. You can make your own pseudo-air conditioner on the cheap with some basic materials, such as thestyrofoam-and-fan version shown above. Don’t like the look of that? There are several other DIY cooling options to try.

7. Optimize Your Fans: Did you know that if you face your fan out, rather than in at night, your room will stay cooler and you might be able to sleep more comfortably? Day or night, you can use a temperature controller (or build one yourself) toautomatically turn the fan on or off based on the temperature and save your energy—literally. If you have a ceiling fan, run it counter-clockwise (the “summer” higher-speed setting) for optimum cooling.

6. Keep Your Food Cool and Avoid Using the Oven: Summer might be a great time to eat outdoors, but some foods and drinks aren’t that enjoyable when heated by the sun. You can make a zeer pot (aka evaporative cooler) for your food and drinks with just two containers or create ice blocks for your cooler using old milk cartons. When it’s too hot to cook, consider making cold soups, relying on electrical appliances like the versatile rice cooker, or try these “no-cook” or “oven-free” recipe ideas.

5. Exercise Comfortably, Even in the Heat: Just because it’s hot out doesn’t mean you have to stop exercising. You can get used to exercising in the heat and use common sense strategies such as switching to water sports, avoiding the sun when it’s strongest, and exercising in short bursts. Pre-cooling techniques can also prevent you from overheating when you work out in hot weather.

4. Optimize Your Windows: You might not need to run your air conditioner if you pay a little more attention to your windows in the summer. Close the windows and use insulated drapes to keep the sun out during the day and open them at night when the sun is down. You can also hang a damp towel in front of the window to cool the air flowing into your home and open opposing windows or windows on the top and bottom floors for maximum air flow.

3. Cool Your Car Down Quickly: This Japanese trick will get your oven-like car closer to bearable temperature. Roll down one window and open and close the opposite door a few times to cool that car down.

2. Stay Cool While You Sleep: Summer heat is worst when you’re trying to get some shuteye, because a higher body temperature makes it harder to fall asleep. If you feel like an insomniac in summer, cool your head with a special pillow like the Chillow, sleep on top of a wet sheet (aka the “Egyptian method”).

1. Know Your Body’s Best Cooling Points: Finally, if you’re stuck in the heat and can’t find get to a cooler place, know your body’s best cooling points, e.g., your wrist and neck. By applying a ice cubes wrapped in a towel (or any other cold object) to these pulse points, you’ll cool down more quickly and effectively.

Reprinted from Lifehacker