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.

While overseas for the 2018 Country to Country Festival, Little Big Town were presented with the Country Music Association's International Artist Achievement Award. The trophy was given in recognition of the band's "creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside the United States." Members Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Philip Sweet and Kimberly Schlapman were honored with the award after being interviewed at London, England's Wogan House.

Jason Aldean new music 2017
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Fans in South Carolina will have an opportunity to see Jason Aldean perform for free on Friday night (March 16). Aldean announced the pop-up performance, sponsored by Field & Stream and held in celebration of the 2018 Geico Bassmaster Classic in Greenville, S.C., on Thursday (March 15). Aldean will take the stage at 7:30PM, right after the fishing tournament's first-day weigh-ins at Greenville's Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Tickets are first-come, first-served.

It's a sad week for the Cadillac Three's Jaren Johnston, who lost his grandmother recently. On Instagram, the singer-songwriter expresses gratitude for his relationship with his "Mamaw": "I loved coming to your camp at the lake when I was a kid," Johnston writes. "I loved the phone conversations where you would ask me where I was traveling next and if it was safe ... and if I was actually making any money."

Rosanne Cash Never Be You
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Rosanne Cash will be given an honorary degree at the Berklee College of Music commencement ceremony this spring. Cash joins Nile Rogers and Esperanza Spalding in this year's class of honorary doctor of music recipients; past recipients include Aretha Franklin, Loretta Lynn, Alison Krauss, Steven Tyler and Smokey Robinson. Cash will receive her honorary degree on May 12; the night before, Berklee students will honor this year's honorary degree recipents by performing music from their careers.

Sierra Hull American Currents
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Mandolin whiz and bluegrass up-and-comer Sierra Hull was honored with a proclamation by the Tennessee House of Representatives in recognition of her musical achievements. The proclamation describes Hull as a "prodigy on the mandolin who has established herself as one of the premier vocalists, songwriters, and instrumentalists in bluegrass and folk music." Hull was presented with the proclamation on March 7, after which she performed a medley of "Tennessee Waltz" and "After You've Gone."

Kane Brown Make Room
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Kane Brown is now officially a Guinness World Records holder! The country up-and-comer was recognized as the first artist to top five U.S. country charts simultaneously, and presented with a plaque in recognition of the feat in Nashville. “It feels awesome to be a Guinness World Records title holder and to be the first artist to achieve this with Billboard," Brown said in a statement. "I remember being in elementary and middle school and looking at the books for all of the records, and I can’t believe my name gets to be in there now.” Brown earned his award for simultaneously holding the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Top Country Albums, Country Digital Song Sales, Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs and Country Streaming Songs charts.

Deana Carter Painted Horses movie
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'90s country stars Deana Carter and Jamie O'Neal will tour together in 2018. It's O'Neal's first time out on the road since 2017, when she toured alongside Ty Herndon and Andy Griggs. "Deana's got a great sense of humor, which I have too. So I know it's going to be fun," O'Neal says in a press release. "We're going to sing on each other's songs ... I'm really looking forward to being out there with another woman." Tour dates are currently being booked and will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tenille Arts record deal
Courtesy of Campbell Entertainment Group
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Singer-songwriter Tenille Arts has signed a deal with Reviver Records. "I am so excited to be signing with Reviver Records. I've been building my team in Nashville for a couple of years now, and when I combine these incredible people with everyone at Reviver Records, it's my dream team," Arts says in a statement. "It's the best feeling in the world as an artist to feel like every single person involved is passionate, genuinely excited about the music, and always thinking about the long term career." Fans should expect new music from the country artist soon; look for Arts' first single with the label and new tour dates to be announced in the coming months.

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