Carrie Underwood, Thomas Rhett make history at virtual ACM Awards, more big music news for September 2020

By JM Stephens 5:18am PDT, Sep 23, 2020

Country music delivers big performances and winners at a reimagined 2020 ACM Awards

Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett made history when they were announced as the first ever entertainer of the year co-winners in the Academy of Country Music Awards' 55-year history. The ACM Awards were held — thanks to the coronavirus pandemic — without a studio audience at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Sept. 16 after being delayed from April 5. Other notable moments from the virtual ceremony, which aired pre-recorded as well as live performances, included former country music superstar Taylor Swift's return to the ACM Awards stage after seven years to perform her new song "Betty" and Carrie's powerhouse medley of Opry hitmakers' biggest songs. Maren Morris won for female artist of the year while Luke Combs took home the male artist of the year trophy. Dan + Shay were named duo of the year and Old Dominion won group of the year. Many stars also showed up for a different-than-before but still stylish red carpet.

Lily Allen marries in Vegas

On Sept. 7, pop star Lily Allen married "Stranger Things" actor David Harbour in an old school Las Vegas wedding. The couple had an Elvis impersonator officiate their small celebration at the Graceland Wedding Chapel. On Sept. 9, Lily shared a series of images from the nuptials and their post ceremony meal at fast food restaurant In-N-Out with her daughters from a previous marriage. David also shared photos on Instagram, explaining, "In a wedding officiated by the king himself, the people's princess wed her devoted, low born, but kind credit card holder in a beautiful ceremony lit by the ashen skies courtesy of a burning state miles away in the midst of a global pandemic." Congrats to the happy couple!

RELATED: Celebrity weddings of 2020

Cardi B files for divorce from Offset

After nearly three years of marriage and a daughter together, Cardi B has pulled the plug on her relationship with Migos rapper Offset. On Sept. 15, Cardi filed divorce papers in Georgia noting that "there are no prospects for a reconciliation." Offset has again been plagued by cheating rumors — he and Cardi reconciled in early 2019 after a brief split when he was unfaithful. Days after her filing, Cardi spoke out about why she ended things. "I have not shed one tear," she said on Instagram. "The reason for my divorce is not because of none of that [stuff] that ever happened before. It's not because of cheating." The truth, she said, is that she "just got tired of … arguing. I got tired of not seeing things eye to eye. … Nothing crazy out of this world happened, sometimes people really do grow apart."

Music stars we lost in September

On Sept. 21, music star Tommy DeVito, 92 — a founding members of famed doo-wop group The Four Seasons — died in a Las Vegas area hospital from complications of the coronavirus. … Frederick Hibbert, 77 (pictured) — better known as Toots, the leader of legendary Grammy-winning reggae and rocksteady stars Toots and The Maytals — died on Sept. 11 at University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. Reports indicated he may have been a victim of the coronavirus. … Kool & the Gang co-founder, singer and saxophonist Ronald "Khalis" Bell died at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sept. 9 at 68. … Former Temptations lead singer Bruce Williamson died from complications of the coronavirus at his Las Vegas home on Sept. 6. He was 49.

Britney Spears' conservatorship case continues

Britney Spears' conservatorship case continued to get messy this month. On Sept. 3, the pop star's lawyers filed paperwork suggesting she does not trust her father, Jamie Spears, and his handling of her estate, which he's controlled since she had a breakdown in 2008. Britney's lawyers also claimed there is no reason for the case to be private as there's no sensitive information regarding her underage children. "Britney herself is vehemently opposed to this effort by her father to keep her legal struggle hidden away in the closet as a family secret. Far from being a conspiracy theory or a 'joke' as [Jamie] reportedly told the media, in large part this scrutiny is a reasonable and even predictable result of [Jamie's] aggressive use of the sealing procedure over the years to minimize the amount of meaningful information made available to the public," her lawyers argued.

Ed Sheeran welcomes first child

Congrats are in order for Ed Sheeran and his wife Cherry Seaborn. The British music star announced on Sept. 1 that they'd welcomed their first child together, a daughter. Ed shared the news on Instagram, writing, "Last week, with the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter — Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran. We are completely in love with her. Both mum and baby are doing amazing and we are on cloud nine over here." The baby's first name was reportedly inspired by Ed's favorite book series, Philip Pullman's fantasy trilogy "His Dark Materials" — which features a main character named Lyra. Her middle name is said to be inspired by a cruise to Antarctica the couple took in late 2019.

Former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett (pictured) took to Instagram to announce the birth of her second child with husband Tommicus Walker, son Tyson Wolf, on Sept. 14. … "Milkshake" singer Kelis — who's also a trained chef (she runs a farm and food business these days) — took to Instagram on Sept. 11 to reveal that she and husband Mike Mora had welcomed their second child and first daughter the week earlier. … On Sept. 6, music star, model, dancer and actress Teyana Taylor gave birth to her second child with basketball star Iman Shumpert, daughter Rue Rose, in their bathroom (just like big sister Junie!).

Music stars whose pregnancies were revealed in September

Musician Taylor Hanson of "MMMBop" fame and wife Natalie (pictured) announced on Instagram on Sept. 15 that they're expecting their seventh child at the end of 2020. … On Sept. 2, Us Weekly confirmed that Robin Thicke's fiancée, April Love Geary, is pregnant with their third child together (and Robin's fourth!). … On Sept. 17, singer-actress and "High School Musical" alum Ashley Tisdale revealed that she and her husband of six years, TV and movie music composer Christopher French, are expecting their first child.

Eminem's intruder is heading to court

Eminem's intruder is headed to court. Earlier this year, a man broke into the rapper's Michigan home and came face to face with the music star. On Sept. 9, the alleged criminal appeared in court and details soon emerged revealing that what happened that night was far darker than what was initially reported to the public. "When [Eminem] asked him why he was there, he was told … that [the man] was there to kill him," Clinton Township officer Adam Hamstock testified, according to the Detroit Free Press. After the hearing, a judge ruled that the case can move forward with a trial set to begin on Sept. 28. How scary!

Ozzy Osbourne reveals he once attacked Sharon Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne recently opened up about some rather disturbing incidents that happened with his family. In the new documentary "Biography: The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne," the Black Sabbath frontman spoke about a time in 1989 when he was high on drugs and tried to strangle and kill his wife, Sharon Osbourne. "We'd had a couple of fights and you can tell it was building to something, you could just feel it," Ozzy said. The rock legend continued, "I felt the calmest I've ever felt in my life. It was like serenity. Everything was just peaceful." Sharon said Ozzy looked at her and said, "We've come to a decision that you've got to die." Luckily, the couple had a panic button in the house that Sharon pressed, alerting police. After Ozzy was put in jail, Sharon opted not to press charges. She said of the incident, "I told him, 'I don't want the money … but if you do this again, either I am going to kill you or you are going to kill me. And do you want that for the kids?'"

McDonald's launches Travis Scott meal that sparks Quarter Pounder shortage

Rapper Travis Scott must be lovin' it! On Sept. 8, McDonald's launched "The Travis Scott" meal — a special $6 order that includes a Quarter Pounder burger with cheese, bacon and lettuce, fries with a barbeque dipping sauce and a Sprite. It's only the second time the fast-food chain has launched a celebrity-endorsed meal (the first was with NBA great Michael Jordan in 1992, the same year the "Sicko Mode" rapper was born). Crazily enough, Travis's combo meal was so popular that after just one week on the menu, it spurred a Quarter Pounder shortage!

Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly's divorce is almost finalized

Country superstar Kacey Musgraves and ex Ruston Kelly filed for divorce in July, and the legal side of their split is almost completely over. According to TMZ, the couple finalized the details of their divorce and are now just waiting for a judge to sign off on a dissolution of marriage. The couple has had a surprisingly low-key split. Their Nashville home is on the market and Kacey will received 84.4% of the proceeds from the sale. One of the reasons the split has been so amicable is because the couple had a prenup and both have agreed that it is valid. The couple released a statement saying, "We believe that we were put into each other's lives for a divine reason and have both changed each other infinitely for the better. The love we have for each other goes far beyond the relationship we've shared as husband and wife. It's a soul connection that can never be erased."

Tamar Braxton's boyfriend gets restraining order against the star

Tamar Braxton is dealing with some legal troubles following a situation with her boyfriend, David Adefeso. On Sept. 8, David filed for a restraining order against Tamar. While he didn't get specific about what happened, David claimed he was seeking to "prevent" domestic violence.

Baby news

Congrats are in order for Nicki Minaj! On Sept. 30, it was reported that the rap superstar and her husband, Kenneth Petty, welcomed a baby boy. TMZ confirmed that their son was born in Los Angeles.