The Boot News Roundup: Carrie Underwood Makes Billboard History With ‘Cry Pretty’ + 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.

Carrie Underwood has made music history! According to Billboard, Underwood's new album Cry Pretty debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart, making her the only woman ever to chart four albums at No. 1 on that chart. “This album is so special to me for so many reasons ,and I couldn’t be more proud that people have embraced it the way they have,” Underwood tells the magazine. “I feel so blessed to be able to do what I do, and I am incredibly grateful for the support of fans around the world that make it all possible.”

Thomas Rhett is headed to Canada in 2019. The chart-topping artist recently added a slate of Canadian dates to his Life Changes Tour, including stops in Montreal, Quebec; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Calgary, Alberta; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. For his Canadian tour dates, Rhett will be joined by opening act Dustin Lynch. Stops begin on April 24 and run through May 15.

Later this year, Lee Ann Womack will be presented with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Golden Note Award. According to MusicRow, Womack will receive the honor in recognition of her "extraordinary" career milestones as a songwriter; previous recipients of the honor include Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and Kenny Rogers. Womack will accept the award at the 2018 ASCAP Country Awards in Nashville on Nov. 12.

In a deal that's being touted as one of the biggest mergers in music history, satellite radio company SiriusXM will acquire the music streaming service Pandora for $3.5 billion. According to The Verge, SiriusXM has been an investor in Pandora since 2017, and plans to keep Pandora active now and in the future for its 70 million monthly active users.