kelsea ballerini is also among the performers and nominees.y. >> i just have to like pat everyone on the back because it's been so safe, and everyone's taking every precaution to get music to people that do it the right way. i think that represents country music so well. >> reporter: the 55th annual academy of country music awards airs tonight right here on cbs. >>> chris martinez, cbs news, los angeles. >>> coming up on "cbs this morning," more on the acms. we'll speak with singer kelsea ballerini about her female artist of the year nomination and her new album. >>> plus, in our "pushing the limits," series. we'll show how some olympic athletes are getting creative to stay in shape after the summer games were postponed. >>> and an update on schools and covid as students in the nation's largest public school district begin their first day of virtual learning. that's the "cbs morning news" for this wednesday. thanks for watching. i'm anne-marie green. have a great day. >>> right now on kpix 5

give up the inside scoop on that. >> "ballerini" is the companion album to kelsea ballerini's march album new one. the first one cast "kelsea." this one is "ballerini." it features 13 songs including "homecoming queen." you see some of it there. reinvented, rerecorded for a new perspective. kelsea told "people" in a recent interview she needed to do something to fall in love with this body of work again. that first album released in march and then the rollout and tour all kind of fell through because of covid and she was pretty bummed about it. worked through it and decided to re-release. she'll perform it at the acm award, good timing because the awards are this wednesday. i'll actually be hosting the official acm's preshow for people tv and acms as well, so check that out on wednesday. you'll hear kelsea and many others. >> awesome. a lot to look forward to. now a special that's paying tribute to a legendary comedienne tonight, lucille ball. tell us about it. >> that's right. it's called "lucille ball: we love lucy." had it's coming up on reelz, my old stomping ground. love you over at

good luck tonight. >> good luck tonight, kelsea ballerini.0 central. >>> ahead, we talk to beloved actress and author sonia manzano about her new children's book that aims to show >>> generations of americans grew up with osonia manzano's maria during her 44 years on sigmoidoscop "sesame street." she was the first leading woman on television. she's retired from "sesame street" and is still dedicated to teaching children to value our differences and similarities. lucky for us she's out with a book with a "national geographic" called "a world together." she joins us to discuss. sonia, it's so good to see you. i've got the book here. i don't know if you can see me. it's great. the illustrations are great, the word are great. >> thank you so much. >> the purpose of the book and i think it's coming at such a great time, that when we're -- we're more alike than different, number one. but when we laugh together, good things happen, and we can laugh together. what's your messager here? >> well, obviously i'm very distressed by all the intolerance tha

. >>> also country star kelsea ballerini joins us. female artist of the year at tonight's acm awards. she talks with us about her new album and also getting creative during the pandemic. and guys, she's got a -- a song about late nights at the bar. it's interesting to hear it at you know, in the morning. but you can imagine it's just a really long evening. right? >> i can imagine it just that way. tony. [ laughter ] i think we've all had those long nights for sure. we'll see you at 7:00. >>> and update this morning. the 49ers have paid the rent money they owed for september and october. the money was paid to the city of santa clara on tuesday. the city's attorney had said the team would not pay 20% of the season's bill because the pandemic forced them to cancel two exhibition games. last week, the 49ers said they would pay the rent. >>> happening today, the sf pride golf tournament tees off at harding park in an interview for cbsn bay area, a golfer from sf pride told us events like this are important to showcase diversity and inclusi

tomorrow on cbs "this morning" we'll talk with kelse kelsea ballerini. >> ahead an inside look at nbauperstar and social activist carmelo anthony is launch agnew initiative aimed at highlighting black fashion designers through his fashion label. anthony a ten time all-star who is a longtime champion for social justice is also known for his style, we could say off the court. his program aims to support black designers with a debut collection. anthony told us he hopes his new program will give underrepresented design ears platform for years to come. >> we are black people. we create the culture. how do we think about what's going to happen to us in the black community in five years, from a creative standpoint what does that look like? >> that's the question nba star carmelo anthony is trying to answer. with a new clothing collection he's calling a black future. it's part of the propel program. the new initiative anthony is launching to support the creative black community and he's calling on 70 emerging design stories make that vision a reality. what was your mission? what was your goal

i look at the tape and we see kelsea ballerini. what a day she had.us in the morning -- >> in the morning, chicken in the morning. >> i like popeye's. she started with us and was performing last night. i'm amazed how the shows and pandemic are pulling off big-feeling shows. >> not easy. >> i stayed up late. it was really, really good show. >> always great to see music. >> >>> this is a morning update. >>> it is 7:26. i am michelle griego. two were shot and injured and is your market parking lot in pittsburgh. it happened early monday morning at the foodsco on atlantic avenue. the victims are reportedly a male and a female. no word yet on their condition or a suspect description. >>> grizzly peak is being described as of fire danger zone. people are lighting fireworks and bonfires at night. there is a new rule, no stopping in the turnouts from 9:00 until 6:00. >>> the largest school district in the south bay says they will continue with online distance learning through the end of the year, even though the number of covid cases is declining. >>> we have

. ♪ i can be happy anywhere with you ♪ >> reporter: dan and shay, luke bryant, kelsea ballerini and moreountry music. ♪ keep a bluebird in my heart >> reporter: from the songwriters club, bluebird cafe. ♪ nothing a beer can't fix >> reporter: to the auditorium on the church of country music to country's most famous stage, the grand ole opry ♪ i showed up at your party wil you have me ♪ >> reporter: taylor swift returned to her roots, performing for the first time at a country music awards show for the first time in many years swift commanded the stage with a guitar to play her new song, "betty." ♪ look around and see >> reporter: what was absent, the fans and applause. reminder of a pandemic that first postponed the show last spring behind the scenes, crews and artists were protected by masks and face shields presenters were given fresh mics, and award envelopes in bags before announcing the line. >> luke combs. >> reporter: luke combs got album and male artist of the year. >> this is a lot to process right now. >> reporter: maren morris won female artist. >> this is weird, talking to no