Melissa Joan Hart helped guide kids to safety after the deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville on Monday. Her kids attend a school nearby, and she and her husband were on their way there for conferences when it happened. In an emotional Instagram video, she says, “We helped a class of kindergartners across a busy highway. They were climbing out of the woods. They were trying to escape the shooter situation at their school. So we helped all these tiny little kids cross the road and get [to] their teachers . . . We helped a mom reunite with her children.” Melissa noted that this is her SECOND experience with a school shooting, because her family used to live in Connecticut, where the kids went to a school not far from Sandy Hook Elementary.
Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey fractured his pelvis in an ATV accident . . . so the band is postponing three shows this weekend in Key West, Florida. They’ve been rescheduled for next year. Matthew posted on Twitter. “I was in an ATV accident that has left my pelvis fractured in three places. The good news is it’s gonna heal just fine. The bad news is I’m gonna have to stay home and recover for a little while. I promise we’ll keep you updated on my recovery and any other shows that might be affected. This tour has been such a blast so far this year and before you know it, I’ll be back out there with No Bad Vibes. Love you all.” The tour is supposed to pick up again on April 13th.
Sunday’s “CMT Music Awards” just added three more reasons to watch. You’ll be seeing performances from Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, and Alanis Morissette. Shania is also getting the “Equal Play Award”, which they added a few years ago. It’s for artists who help elevate “diverse and underrepresented voices in country music.” Gwen is set to duet with Carly Pearce during the show. And Alanis is performing with FOUR other artists . . . Ingrid Andress, Lainey Wilson, Madeline Edwards, and Morgan Wade. They’re doing her song “You Oughta Know” to celebrate the 10th anniversary of CMT’s “Next Women of Country” franchise.
“CMT Hot 20 Countdown” asked several country stars if they have a “weird hidden talent” . . . and they got some great answers. Carly Pearce can bend her elbows back. Kane Brown can play “Guitar Hero” with his FEET. Hardy can locate hard-to-find Native American artifacts, and Russell Dickerson can talk like Donald Duck. Kelsea Ballerini, who does a really good Jennifer Coolidge impression.
The Major League Baseball season starts tomorrow, and somebody asked Tim McGraw about his go-to food at the park. I’m happy to say, he keeps it real. “Oh, I gotta have a hot dog, or two or three. Yeah, I love hot dogs, especially a good chili dog, if I can find it.”
You know you’re a big deal when people cue-up nine months in advance to reserve seats to your shows. Tickets go on sale Friday for Vince Gill and Amy Grant’s annual Christmas At The Ryman residency. The 12 concert run kicks off December 13th . . . and wraps December 23rd. Hit up Ryman.com for details.
