The Boot News Roundup: Country Artists Plan CMA Fest Fan Club Parties + More

Welcome to The Boot's News Roundup, a morning rundown of the news country music fans need to know. Read on to learn more about the latest goings-on in the country, Americana, bluegrass and folk genres.

At this year's CMT Music Awards, Devin Dawson and Carly Pearce will be featured on the Ram Trucks Side Stage. According to Rolling Stone, the awards show will highlight Pearce and Dawson, along with Lanco, Lindsay Ell, Russell Dickerson, and Walker Hayes, with performances during the show. Set for June 6 at Bridgestone Arena, the 2018 CMT Music Awards will air at 8PM ET.

"Meant to Be," the hit collaboration between Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, has surpassed one billion streams across the globe on digital platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. According to a press release, the song has been certified three-times platinum, and racked up more than 430 million views on its music video on YouTube.

Attending CMA Fest this year? There's a huge slate of fan club parties going on during the festival. Cole Swindell's fan party is set for June 8 at 4PM, while Luke Bryan's Nut House party will be hosted at the Hutton Hotel that same day. Morgan Evans will host fans at 1PM on June 8 as well, while Smithfield have a fan party planned for 4:30PM on June 7 at the High Watt. A number of other artists will be hosting parties as well; Country Music Tattle Tale has an in-depth list available.

On June 1, Carlene Carter will unveil a historical marker dedicated to her parents, Johnny and June Carter Cash in Franklin, Ky. According to a press release, the marker commemorates the iconic country couple's 1968 "surprise" wedding, which took place in a Methodist church across the street from the town's courthouse, where the memorial will be located. "It was truly like the line in "Jackson," the one where they sing 'We got married in a fever! Hotter than a pepper sprout!'” Carter says in a statement. “The decision to have the wedding in Franklin was made because it was close by and had to do with the fact that there was a wait for a marriage license in Tennessee." The unveiling of the marker will kick off the Love in Bloom Festival: A Tribute to Johnny and June, at which Lee Ann Womack, Carter and the Charlie Daniels Band will perform.

On June 8, RaeLynn will break a sweat for charity, hosting the second-annual Ride on the Row fundraiser. Set to take place at the Warner Nashville tent during CMA Fest, RaeLynn and a group of fans will work out for an hour, with proceeds from the $30 class tickets benefiting the RaeLynn Diabetes Fund. The event will kick off at 7AM.

Recording Academy president and CEO Neil Portnow will resign from his post when his contract expires next year. According to Billboard, Portnow will continue in his role until July 2019, at which time a successor is expected to be named. Right before Portnow's announcement, former MusiCares vice president Dana Tomarken accused Portnow of funneling funds away from the charity, also reported by Billboard.