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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 8 June 2019
Carrie Underwood wins at CMT Awards, Tanya Tucker performs

By MESFIN FEKADU Martina McBride, Trisha
Carrie Underwood extend- Yearwood, Lauren Alaina
ed her run as the most dec- and more acts.
orated act in the history of Little Big Town, who also
the CMT Music Awards with performed and returned
her 20th win Wednesday for a second year as hosts
night. of the show, talked about
Underwood won two prizes the lack of female singers
at the fan-voted show, in- on country radio ahead
cluding video of the year of the strong female per-
for "Cry Pretty" and female formance. On this week's
video of the year for "Love Billboard country airplay
Wins." chart — which tracks radio
"Fans, thank you so much. airplay — only 10 of the 60
I saw you guys doing the slots belong to women or
Twitter parties and getting songs co-starring a woman.
together and doing your "Back in December it was
thing and voting," she said. even worse — there were
"None of us would be able none," Little Big Town's Kar-
to do any of what we do if en Fairchild said. "Here's
not for you guys. You guys my question, ladies in the
put us here. You guys keep Carrie Underwood arrives at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at the Bridgestone house: 'What do we have
us going. You guys let us Arena in Nashville, Tenn. to do to get some airplay
live out our dreams." Associated Press around here?'"
When she won the first Little Big Town told jokes at
televised award of the got you," she said. Town and Trombone Shorty group's "Water Runs Dry" the top of the show and
night, Underwood ac- The Grammy-winning kicked off the event with for the performance. Sh- even sang some of "Old
knowledged her husband's country star also performed a performance of "Don't eryl Crow and Maren Morris Town Road," the No. 1
birthday (she is married to at the show honoring the Threaten Me With a Good teamed up onstage, while country-rap hit from new-
former hockey player Mike year's best country music Time." More collaborative Tanya Tucker — whose new comer Lil Nas X that was
Fisher, who sat in the audi- videos, which took place performances followed: album will be produced by booted from the Billboard
ence). at the Bridgestone Arena in Brett Young sang "Here To- Brandi Carlile — sang "Delta country songs chart when
"It is my husband's birthday Nashville, Tennessee. night" with Boyz II Men, even Dawn" with the Grammy- the tune was deemed not
today — look what they Thomas Rhett, Little Big blending in some of the R&B winning Americana singer, country enough.q

With posthumous release, Avicii goes out on top

By MARK KENNEDY that incorporates elements
Associated Press outside EDM. Unlike other
Avicii, "TIM" (Universal) DJs, his songs aren't rushed.
The first words from the first He lets them breathe. The
single of Avicii's latest album predictable tricks his rivals
are a gut-punch: "Can you use are absent here. The
hear me? SOS." Not long songs feel organic, not pro-
after he wrote the lyric, the cessed. Lyrically, it's tempt-
Swedish DJ-producer was ing to find darkness and,
dead. The hardest part is sure, it's there. "Can I get a
that his posthumous album, little peace?" go the lyrics
"TIM," is a farewell wave on one song. "Down upon
from an artist who clearly my knees," go another. "I
was at the top of his game. still feel broken."
Avicii, whose real name But "TIM" is actually optimis-
was Tim Bergling, died in tic in tone. "All the breath in
Oman last year at 28. He your lungs/Is stronger than
left behind a dozen excel- the tears in your eyes," the
lent songs that show he lyrics go on "Hold the Line."
had grown into a pop mu- And despite fighting with
sic powerhouse, attracting a lover in "Tough Love,"
the likes of Imagine Drag- In this Aug. 30, 2013, file photo, Swedish DJ, remixer and record producer Avicii poses for a portrait it concludes: "There's no
ons and Coldplay's Chris in New York. place I'd rather be than in
Martin as guests. Associated Press your arms."
Days before leaving for Even "SOS" — which reunites
Oman, he sent new music does a little Troye Sivan- Swedish production team on "Heaven" may remind Avicii with Aloe Blacc, who
to his team, outlining what like frank intimacy ("Freak"), Vargas & Lagola collabo- you of the Coldplay man's sang on Avicii's biggest hit,
songs he wanted on his uses blissed-out harmo- rated on three songs. work on the smash hit 2013's "Wake Me Up" — has
forthcoming album. No two nies ("Peace of Mind") and Avicii adds ominous strings "Something Like This" with hope: "I can feel your love
are the same. tropical vibes ("Bad Repu- with Imagine Dragons to The Chainsmokers. It may pulling me up from the un-
He explores Indian sounds tation"). Joe Janiak offers create the near-operatic even be better. derground." There is the
("Tough Love"), hip-hop and vocals on two tracks, Bonn "Heart Upon My Sleeve." His "TIM" is the culmination of power of love all over "TIM."
glam ("Excuse Me Mr Sir"), on another pair and the collaboration with Martin Avicii's song-based flair Let that be his legacy.q