AMANDA SHIRES

Country star Maren Morris didn't want to make the leap to playing arenas this year after an extended time off from the road, saying she's trying not to overshoot too quickly.

The fiddler, singer and songwriter's new Christmas album takes a realistic measure of the season.

Musical multi-hyphenate Brandi Carlile has another trophy for her shelf as she won artist of the year at the 2021 Americana Honors and Awards show.

Carrie Underwood brought the Academy of Country Music Awards to church.

^ Keep Houston Press Free Support Us LocalCommunityJournalismI Support Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. Support UsDuring normal times, the music writers here at the Houston Press have about a six months "coming soon" schedule of area concerts we use to coordinate coverage. It's a formidable list, incorporating our city's many venues and the fact Houston is an expected stop for just about every touring act. Shires calls her shows "live music meditations," and the multi-instrumentalist tore through selections from her most recent release (To the Sunset) and the upcoming Deciphering Dreams. Unlike the McLachlan and Morris shows, she also played to a sparse audience.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Highwomen won three awards, including album, song and duo/group of the year, at the Americana Honors and Awards. The late John Prine was given artist of the year honors. The Americana Music Association announced the winners online on Tuesday this year after their awards show, normally held in Nashville, Tennessee, was cancelled because of the pandemic. Prine, who died in April due to complications from COVID-19, was a titan among the Americana music community, having won artist of the year three times previously and received a lifetime achievement award in 2003. The band is also nominated for three Grammys this year, including album of the year and record of the year.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ashley McBryde, Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett top the 2020 CMT Music Awards nominations with three each. In nominations announced Wednesday for the pandemic-delayed show, 14 videos are vying for the top prize of video of the year. The fan-voted show will air on CMT and other networks on Oct. 21 with outdoor performances. The Highwomen, a group made up of Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Amanda Shires, also got their first nomination for group video. Electronic producer and DJ Marshmello also earned a nomination in collaborative video for the crossover hit “One Thing Right" with Kane Brown.

Brandi Carlile performs at the To Nashville, With Love Benefit Concert at Marathon Music Works on Monday, March 9, 2020, in Nashville, TN. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)NASHVILLE, Tenn. Singer songwriter Brandi Carlile has had a productive year and that's led her to be the leading nominee at the Americana Honors and Awards for her roles as a solo artist, a member of the group The Highwomen, as a producer and as a songwriter. Also nominated as artist of the year were Tanya Tucker and Yola. The Americana Music Association said the winners will be announced during its awards show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sept. 16, but said plans are still unfolding for the show. Album of the year nominees include Tucker's comeback album, While I'm Livin,'" which was produced by Carlile, The Highwomen's self-titled debut, Tyler Childer's Country Squire, and Nathaniel Rateliff's It's Still Alright.___Online: https://americanamusic.org/awards

Saturday Sessions: Jason Isbell performs "Letting You Go" Musician Jason Isbell recorded his new album, "Reunions," before the coronavirus outbreak hit. Like many artists, he was supposed to be on tour, but instead finds himself at home isolating with his wife, fellow musician Amanda Shires, and their 4-year-old daughter. Despite being confined to home himself, Isbell’s album spread out wide to hit #1 on four Billboard charts. He joins "CBS This Morning: Saturday" to perform "Letting You Go."

Saturday Sessions: Jason Isbell performs "Only Children" Musician Jason Isbell recorded his new album, "Reunions," before the coronavirus outbreak hit. Like many artists, he was supposed to be on tour, but instead finds himself at home isolating with his wife, fellow musician Amanda Shires, and their 4-year-old daughter. Despite being confined to home himself, Isbell’s album spread out wide to hit #1 on four Billboard charts. He joins "CBS This Morning: Saturday" to perform "Only Children."

FILE - This July 15, 2018 file photo shows Jason Isbell, of Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, performing at Forecastle Music Festival in Louisville, Ky. Isbell is king of the Americana genre, but he's ambitious for more. The 2013 breakthrough album Southeastern established Isbell as an important new voice and two vibrant follow-ups proved that wasn't a fluke. With Lucinda Williams and t he late John Prine, Isbell formed a holy trinity for fans of Americana music. But Isbell wanted production touches that could help the disc Reunions appeal to people who might not listen to Americana music. Isbell, a progressive with no interest in seeing Trump re-elected, will likely face those issues himself in an election year.

Amanda ShiresThe Heights TheaterFebruary 27, 2020Amanda Shires got her start at 15, playing fiddle for the legendary Texas Playboys. She's released six solo albums and in the last year founded the Highwomen with Maren Morris, Brandi Carlisle, and Natalie Hemby. Shires brought her "live music meditation" to the Heights Theater for the Houston stop on her Atmosphereless tour. Maybe one of the most common misconceptions about Shires she played fiddle for the Texas Playboys after all is that she's purely a country artist. Shires kept control over a sparse Heights Theater crowd.