The Boot News Roundup: Florida Georgia Line Earn 2018 MTV VMA Nod + 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.

Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha are nominated at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards for their record-shattering collaboration "Meant to Be." The pop-country pair is nominated in the Best Collaboration category, where they're facing off against duets from Beyonce and Jay Z and Bruno Mars and Cardi B, among others. The MTV VMAs will take place on Aug. 20 in New York City; fans can vote for Rexha and Florida Georgia Line here.

Granger Smith's alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr. is writing a book. Titled If You're City, You're Country, according to a press release, the illustrated paperback is a "collection of comedic anecdotes comparing and contrasting city life and country life as narrated through a cartoon." Fans who purchase the book will also score a five-song EP of "fan-favorite Earl Dibbles Jr. tracks." If You're City, You're Country is set for release on Aug. 21; fans can pre-order via Amazon now.

Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks are officially some of the richest people on the planet. The trio of country mega-stars are on 2018's Forbes list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities in the world. Bryan lands at No. 45, with an annual earning of $52 million, while Brooks raked in $45.5 million, most of which was earned during his epic World Tour, and landed at No. 59. Chesney is a little further down the list, at No. 87, having made $37 million over the last year.

Texas native George Strait is closing his iconic San Antonio rodeo venue, the Rose Palace. According to Wide Open Country, Strait has owned the venue since 1998, using it to host his annual George Strait Team Roping Classic, among other "western lifestyle events." The venue has cancelled all events after Aug. 1, when it will officially closes its doors; after that, the Rose Palace will be put on the market for sale.