NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

CBS News veteran Morley Safer retiring

NEW YORK

CBS News veteran Morley Safer, a “60 Minutes” correspondent for all but two of the newsmagazine’s 48-year history, said Wednesday that he’s retiring from television.

The network will mark the occasion with an hourlong special on Safer’s career Sunday after the regular edition of “60 Minutes.”

“It’s been a wonderful run, but the time has come to say goodbye to all of my friends at CBS and the dozens of people who kept me on the air,” Safer said. “But most of all, I thank the millions of people who have been loyal to our broadcast.”

His craggy face and voice deepened by cigarettes are familiar to all who watched television’s first and still most-popular newsmagazine. Safer is a living link to the show’s combustible glory years with founding executive Don Hewitt, correspondent Mike Wallace and humorist Andy Rooney, when “60 Minutes” was often the most-watched show on television.

At 84 and dealing with health issues, Safer had cut back on work in recent years and was seen in a wheelchair at fellow correspondent Bob Simon’s funeral last year.

His departure leaves Steve Kroft and Lesley Stahl as the senior correspondents on the newsmagazine.

Jason Isbell leads Americana nominations

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Americana darling Jason Isbell leads the nominations for the Americana Music Association’s Honors and Awards with three nods for album of the year, artist of the year and song of the year.

The nominations were announced Wednesday in Washington, D.C., for the awards show to take place in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 21.

Singer-songwriters Chris Stapleton and Lucinda Williams will compete with Isbell in the artist of the year and album of the year categories. Soul band Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats and country singer Margo Price are also both nominated for song of the year and new/emerging artist of the year.

Associated Press