CMA CLOSEUP: CMA BRINGS COUNTRY MUSIC TO PUBLIC TELEVISION

By Bob Doerschuk

© 2014 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.

Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum

 perform on “Front and Center.” -  Photo Credit: Donn Jones

On June 25, CMA and live concert television series “Front and Center” filmed two episodes celebrating the 10th anniversary of the CMA Songwriters Series, featuring CMA Award winners Dierks Bentley and Lady Antebellum onstage in intimate acoustic settings.

The Bentley performance will be made available to public television stations on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Songwriters Jim Beavers, Ross Copperman, Brett James and Jon Randall join him onstage in this one-hour broadcast.

Lady Antebellum showcases its hits, previews tracks from its fifth album 747, shares personal stories and anecdotes and invites songwriters Rodney Clawson, Tom Douglas, Josh Kear, Luke Laird and Abe Stoklasa to share the stage. This one-hour installment will be made available to public television stations on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

“Country Music is a genre based on the foundation of great songs,” said CMA CEO Sarah Trahern in New York City during a Sept. 3 press conference to reveal the final nominees for the 2014 CMA Awards. “Announcing the ‘Front and Center’ shows the same time we are recognizing our CMA Awards-nominated songwriters for the CMA Song of the Year was a natural fit and a great way to build excitement leading up to the Awards broadcast on Nov. 5.”

Dierks Bentley is joined by Jon Randall, Brett James, Jim Beavers and Ross Copperman

 at his “Front and Center” taping. - Photo Credit: Donn Jones

“We were privileged to be able to work with as prestigious an organization as CMA, to bring these compelling shows with Dierks and Lady Antebellum to public television,” said Don Maggi, Executive Producer, “Front and Center.” “They were truly special shows that we hope have laid the groundwork for future programming with CMA.”

“With its new CMA partnership, ’Front and Center‘ becomes an outlet for the true backbone of Country Music — the songs and the people who wrote them — to be laid bare,” noted Rolling Stone Country.

For air dates in your market, check your local public television station schedules.