Start Your ACM Country Fan Holiday Shopping NOW!

Check out the ACM Awards official merchandise online store.

As we approach the 50th Anniversary of the ACM Awards (April 19th on CBS!), they're offing 10 Days of Giveaways this holiday season Monday-Friday, starting December 1st – December 12th!

Check back each day as a new featured artist will be revealed and enter for your chance to win prizes & a signed copy of the ACM’s first-ever ACM commemorative book, This Is Country: A Backstage Pass to the Academy of Country Music Awards, from the artist of the day! 

Check www.acmcountry.com on Monday December 1st for your first chance to win!

Purchase your own copy of This Is Country: A Backstage Pass to the Academy of Country Music Awards, HERE!

Jake Hosts ACM Honors In Nashville

Country music fans, superstar Music City talent and industry elite turned out in force last week for the Academy of Country Music’s 8th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. 

The sold-out special event, hosted by Jake Owen, was held in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium and was sponsored by City National Bank.

The evening included a mix of live music, historical video retrospectives and current video tributes and interviews with industry veterans honoring Special Awards recipients Bob Beckham (posthumously), Steve Buchanan, Jack Clement (posthumously), Dean Dillon, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Ronnie Milsap, Paul Moore, BuckOwens (posthumously), Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts.  Studio Recording Awards (formerly MBI Awards) recipients include Shannon Forrest, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, Charlie Judge, RobMcNelley,Justin Niebank,Michael Rhodes and Bryan Sutton.  Industry Award winners include Brian O’Connell of Live Nation, Nicole More of Neste Event Marketing, Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, TX, Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, TX, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN, Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN,Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT and Mohegan Sun Wolf Den in Uncasville, CT.  Shane McAnally was honored as Songwriter of the Year.

Special Awards recipient Merle Haggard was previously presented with the ACM Crystal Milestone Award for his 50 years in country music on the 49th ACM Awards in April.

Check out photos from the red carpet here.

Country music fans, superstar Music City talent and industry elite turned out in force tonight for the Academy of Country Music’s 8^th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 49^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.  The sold-out special event, hosted by Jake Owen, was held in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium and was sponsored by City National Bank.
The evening included a mix of live music, historical video retrospectives and current video tributes and interviews with industry veterans honoring Special Awards recipients Bob Beckham (posthumously), Steve Buchanan, Jack Clement (posthumously), Dean Dillon, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Ronnie Milsap, Paul Moore, BuckOwens (posthumously), Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts.  Studio Recording Awards (formerly MBI Awards) recipients include Shannon Forrest, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, Charlie Judge, RobMcNelley,Justin Niebank,Michael Rhodes and Bryan Sutton.  Industry Award winners include Brian O’Connell of Live Nation, Nicole More of Neste Event Marketing, Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, TX, Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, TX, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN, Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN,Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT and Mohegan Sun Wolf Den in Uncasville, CT.  Shane McAnally was honored as Songwriter of the Year.
Special Awards recipient Merle Haggard was previously presented with the ACM Crystal Milestone Award for his 50 years in country music on the 49^th ACM Awards in April. 
 Artists who performed in tribute to honorees included:

•       Dierks Bentley performing “Love’s Gonna Live Here”  in tribute to Buck Owens
•       Billy Burnette performing “Ballad of a Teenage Queen” in tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement
•       Shawn Camp performing “Guess Things Happen That Way” in tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement
•       Rodney Clawson, performing “The Chair” in tribute to Dean Dillon
•       Hunter Hayes, performing “I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World” in tribute to Ronnie Milsap
•       Will Hoge performing “Me & Bobby McGee” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson
•       Jack Ingram performing “Sunday Morning Coming Down” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson
•       Tony Joe White performing “Polk Salad Annie” in tribute to Bob Beckham
•       Lee Ann Womack performing “An Empty Glass” in tribute to Dean Dillon
•       Dwight Yoakam performing a medley of “My Heart Skips a Beat,” “Cryin Time,” “Together Again” and “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail” in tribute to Buck Owens
•       Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson & Hillary Scott performing a medley of “Merry Go Round,” “Tie It Up,” and “Downtown” in tribute to Shane McAnally
•       Sam Palladio & Clare Bowen, performing “If I Didn’t Know Better” in tribute to Rascal Flatts and Steve Buchanan
•       Oak Ridge Boys performing “Elvira” in tribute to Paul Moore
•       The Swon Brothers performing a medley of “Wasted” and “See You Again” in tribute to Carrie Underwood

- See more at: http://www.acmcountry.com/news.html?n_id=699#sthash.z2QlutDI.dpuf

Country music fans, superstar Music City talent and industry elite turned out in force tonight for the Academy of Country Music’s 8^th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 49^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.  The sold-out special event, hosted by Jake Owen, was held in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium and was sponsored by City National Bank.
The evening included a mix of live music, historical video retrospectives and current video tributes and interviews with industry veterans honoring Special Awards recipients Bob Beckham (posthumously), Steve Buchanan, Jack Clement (posthumously), Dean Dillon, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Ronnie Milsap, Paul Moore, BuckOwens (posthumously), Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts.  Studio Recording Awards (formerly MBI Awards) recipients include Shannon Forrest, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, Charlie Judge, RobMcNelley,Justin Niebank,Michael Rhodes and Bryan Sutton.  Industry Award winners include Brian O’Connell of Live Nation, Nicole More of Neste Event Marketing, Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, TX, Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, TX, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN, Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN,Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT and Mohegan Sun Wolf Den in Uncasville, CT.  Shane McAnally was honored as Songwriter of the Year.
Special Awards recipient Merle Haggard was previously presented with the ACM Crystal Milestone Award for his 50 years in country music on the 49^th ACM Awards in April. 
 Artists who performed in tribute to honorees included:

•       Dierks Bentley performing “Love’s Gonna Live Here”  in tribute to Buck Owens
•       Billy Burnette performing “Ballad of a Teenage Queen” in tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement
•       Shawn Camp performing “Guess Things Happen That Way” in tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement
•       Rodney Clawson, performing “The Chair” in tribute to Dean Dillon
•       Hunter Hayes, performing “I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World” in tribute to Ronnie Milsap
•       Will Hoge performing “Me & Bobby McGee” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson
•       Jack Ingram performing “Sunday Morning Coming Down” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson
•       Tony Joe White performing “Polk Salad Annie” in tribute to Bob Beckham
•       Lee Ann Womack performing “An Empty Glass” in tribute to Dean Dillon
•       Dwight Yoakam performing a medley of “My Heart Skips a Beat,” “Cryin Time,” “Together Again” and “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail” in tribute to Buck Owens
•       Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson & Hillary Scott performing a medley of “Merry Go Round,” “Tie It Up,” and “Downtown” in tribute to Shane McAnally
•       Sam Palladio & Clare Bowen, performing “If I Didn’t Know Better” in tribute to Rascal Flatts and Steve Buchanan
•       Oak Ridge Boys performing “Elvira” in tribute to Paul Moore
•       The Swon Brothers performing a medley of “Wasted” and “See You Again” in tribute to Carrie Underwood

Presenters included the Oak Ridge Boys to Paul Moore, Kenny Chesney to Shane McAnally,Pete Fisher to Steve Buchanan, and Jack Ingram to Kris Kristofferson. Brenda Lee presented to Cindy Devault, who accepted with other family members on behalf of her father, Bob Beckham.  Jake Owen presented to Ronnie Milsap, to Alison Clement, who accepted on behalf of her father Cowboy Jack Clement, and to Buddy Owens, who accepted on behalf of his father Buck Owens.  The Swon Brothers presented to Carrie Underwood, Tim Tebow presented to Rascal Flatts, and Lee Ann Womack presented to Dean Dillon.  Justin Moore presented the Industry awards, and Thomas Rhett presented the Studio Recording Awards.  
Jake Owen opened the show with a performance of Ronnie Milsap’s hit “Back On My Mind Again.”
The house band for the evening, led by musical director Frank Liddell, Wyatt Beard (background vocals), Glen Duncan (fiddle), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Jedd Hughes (guitar/utility), John Jarvis (piano/keys), Liana Manis (background vocals), Brent Mason (guitar), Jerry Roe (drums), included Glenn Worf (bandleader/bass).
SPECIAL AWARDS
Career Achievement Award – Toby Keith andRonnie Milsap received the Career Achievement Award, honoring an individual artist, duo, group or multiple artist collaboration that have advanced the popularity and acceptance of country music through their endeavors in the entertainment industry in multiple areas during the preceding calendar year. Past recipients of the Career Achievement Award include John Anderson, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Johnny Paycheck, Carl Perkins, Reba and Kenny Rogers.
Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Bob Beckham was honored with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, honoring individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre.  Past recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award include Alabama,Garth Brooks,Johnny Cash,Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers,Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, The Judds,  Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, KennyRogers, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, Keith Whitley, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Wills and Dwight Yoakam, among others.
Crystal Milestone Award – Merle Haggard received the Crystal Milestone Award during the 49^th Annual ACM Awards telecast, which is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement.  Past recipients of the Crystal Milestone Awardinclude Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Gayle Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles and Taylor Swift. 
Gene Weed Special Achievement Award – Carrie Underwood received the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, which acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music. Past recipients of the Gene Weed Special Achievement Awardinclude Garth Brooks, George Burns, Jeff Foxworthy, Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton and George Strait.
Jim Reeves International Award – Steve Buchanan andRascal Flatts received the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.  Past recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Garth Brooks, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Merv Griffin, Alan Jackson, Charlie Nagatani,Buck Owens,Dolly Parton,Taylor Swift,Keith Urban, and Lady Antebellum, among others. 
Mae Boren Axton Award – Paul Moore received the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music.  Past recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Award include John Dorris, Rod Essig, Gayle Holcomb, Jack Lameier, Marge Meoli, Ray Pilzak, Gaynelle Pitts, Gene Weed, Tommy Wiggins and David Young.
Poet’s Award – Jack Clement (awarded posthumously), Dean Dillon, Kris Kristofferson, andBuck Owens (awarded posthumously),received the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music. Previous recipients of the Poet’s Award include Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Guy Clark, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Roger Miller, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker and Hank Williams.
INDUSTRY AWARDS
CASINO OF THE YEAR:  Small Capacity - Mohegan Sun Wolf Den - Uncasville, CT
CASINO OF THE YEAR:  Medium Capacity - Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR:  Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
VENUE OF THE YEAR:  Small Capacity - Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater – Austin, TX
VENUE OF THE YEAR:  Medium Capacity - Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN
VENUE OF THE YEAR:  Large Capacity - Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR:  Nicole More – Neste Event Marketing
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR:  Brian O’Connell – Live Nation
STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS (FORMERLY THE MBI AWARDS)
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Michael Rhodes
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR:  Shannon Forrest
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rob McNelley
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Charlie Judge
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bryan Sutton
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Paul Franklin
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR:  Justin Niebank
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR:  Dann Huff
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:   Shane McAnally
- See more at: http://www.acmcountry.com/news.html?n_id=699#sthash.z2QlutDI.dpuf

Country music fans, superstar Music City talent and industry elite turned out in force tonight for the Academy of Country Music’s 8^th Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 49^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.  The sold-out special event, hosted by Jake Owen, was held in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium and was sponsored by City National Bank.
The evening included a mix of live music, historical video retrospectives and current video tributes and interviews with industry veterans honoring Special Awards recipients Bob Beckham (posthumously), Steve Buchanan, Jack Clement (posthumously), Dean Dillon, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Ronnie Milsap, Paul Moore, BuckOwens (posthumously), Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts.  Studio Recording Awards (formerly MBI Awards) recipients include Shannon Forrest, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, Charlie Judge, RobMcNelley,Justin Niebank,Michael Rhodes and Bryan Sutton.  Industry Award winners include Brian O’Connell of Live Nation, Nicole More of Neste Event Marketing, Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, TX, Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, TX, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN, Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN,Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT and Mohegan Sun Wolf Den in Uncasville, CT.  Shane McAnally was honored as Songwriter of the Year.
Special Awards recipient Merle Haggard was previously presented with the ACM Crystal Milestone Award for his 50 years in country music on the 49^th ACM Awards in April. 
 Artists who performed in tribute to honorees included:

•       Dierks Bentley performing “Love’s Gonna Live Here”  in tribute to Buck Owens
•       Billy Burnette performing “Ballad of a Teenage Queen” in tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement
•       Shawn Camp performing “Guess Things Happen That Way” in tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement
•       Rodney Clawson, performing “The Chair” in tribute to Dean Dillon
•       Hunter Hayes, performing “I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World” in tribute to Ronnie Milsap
•       Will Hoge performing “Me & Bobby McGee” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson
•       Jack Ingram performing “Sunday Morning Coming Down” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson
•       Tony Joe White performing “Polk Salad Annie” in tribute to Bob Beckham
•       Lee Ann Womack performing “An Empty Glass” in tribute to Dean Dillon
•       Dwight Yoakam performing a medley of “My Heart Skips a Beat,” “Cryin Time,” “Together Again” and “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail” in tribute to Buck Owens
•       Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson & Hillary Scott performing a medley of “Merry Go Round,” “Tie It Up,” and “Downtown” in tribute to Shane McAnally
•       Sam Palladio & Clare Bowen, performing “If I Didn’t Know Better” in tribute to Rascal Flatts and Steve Buchanan
•       Oak Ridge Boys performing “Elvira” in tribute to Paul Moore
•       The Swon Brothers performing a medley of “Wasted” and “See You Again” in tribute to Carrie Underwood

Presenters included the Oak Ridge Boys to Paul Moore, Kenny Chesney to Shane McAnally,Pete Fisher to Steve Buchanan, and Jack Ingram to Kris Kristofferson. Brenda Lee presented to Cindy Devault, who accepted with other family members on behalf of her father, Bob Beckham.  Jake Owen presented to Ronnie Milsap, to Alison Clement, who accepted on behalf of her father Cowboy Jack Clement, and to Buddy Owens, who accepted on behalf of his father Buck Owens.  The Swon Brothers presented to Carrie Underwood, Tim Tebow presented to Rascal Flatts, and Lee Ann Womack presented to Dean Dillon.  Justin Moore presented the Industry awards, and Thomas Rhett presented the Studio Recording Awards.  
Jake Owen opened the show with a performance of Ronnie Milsap’s hit “Back On My Mind Again.”
The house band for the evening, led by musical director Frank Liddell, Wyatt Beard (background vocals), Glen Duncan (fiddle), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Jedd Hughes (guitar/utility), John Jarvis (piano/keys), Liana Manis (background vocals), Brent Mason (guitar), Jerry Roe (drums), included Glenn Worf (bandleader/bass).
SPECIAL AWARDS
Career Achievement Award – Toby Keith andRonnie Milsap received the Career Achievement Award, honoring an individual artist, duo, group or multiple artist collaboration that have advanced the popularity and acceptance of country music through their endeavors in the entertainment industry in multiple areas during the preceding calendar year. Past recipients of the Career Achievement Award include John Anderson, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Johnny Paycheck, Carl Perkins, Reba and Kenny Rogers.
Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Bob Beckham was honored with the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, honoring individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre.  Past recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award include Alabama,Garth Brooks,Johnny Cash,Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers,Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, The Judds,  Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, KennyRogers, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, Keith Whitley, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Wills and Dwight Yoakam, among others.
Crystal Milestone Award – Merle Haggard received the Crystal Milestone Award during the 49^th Annual ACM Awards telecast, which is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement.  Past recipients of the Crystal Milestone Awardinclude Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Gayle Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles and Taylor Swift. 
Gene Weed Special Achievement Award – Carrie Underwood received the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, which acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music. Past recipients of the Gene Weed Special Achievement Awardinclude Garth Brooks, George Burns, Jeff Foxworthy, Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton and George Strait.
Jim Reeves International Award – Steve Buchanan andRascal Flatts received the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.  Past recipients of the Jim Reeves International Award include Garth Brooks, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Merv Griffin, Alan Jackson, Charlie Nagatani,Buck Owens,Dolly Parton,Taylor Swift,Keith Urban, and Lady Antebellum, among others. 
Mae Boren Axton Award – Paul Moore received the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music.  Past recipients of the Mae Boren Axton Award include John Dorris, Rod Essig, Gayle Holcomb, Jack Lameier, Marge Meoli, Ray Pilzak, Gaynelle Pitts, Gene Weed, Tommy Wiggins and David Young.
Poet’s Award – Jack Clement (awarded posthumously), Dean Dillon, Kris Kristofferson, andBuck Owens (awarded posthumously),received the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music. Previous recipients of the Poet’s Award include Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Guy Clark, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Roger Miller, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker and Hank Williams.
INDUSTRY AWARDS
CASINO OF THE YEAR:  Small Capacity - Mohegan Sun Wolf Den - Uncasville, CT
CASINO OF THE YEAR:  Medium Capacity - Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR:  Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
VENUE OF THE YEAR:  Small Capacity - Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater – Austin, TX
VENUE OF THE YEAR:  Medium Capacity - Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN
VENUE OF THE YEAR:  Large Capacity - Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR:  Nicole More – Neste Event Marketing
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR:  Brian O’Connell – Live Nation
STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS (FORMERLY THE MBI AWARDS)
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Michael Rhodes
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR:  Shannon Forrest
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rob McNelley
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Charlie Judge
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bryan Sutton
STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Paul Franklin
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR:  Justin Niebank
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR:  Dann Huff
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:   Shane McAnally
- See more at: http://www.acmcountry.com/news.html?n_id=699#sthash.z2QlutDI.dpuf

Jerrod Niemann And ACM Help Deaf Kids "Hear The Music"

Niemann brings Songs for Sound kids onstage during his performance at the 2014 ACM Party for a Cause Festival in front of a 10,000+ audience to raise awareness for cochlear implant programs.

L to R - Jacob (brother of CI recipient), Lexi - CI recip., Charlotte - CI recip.

PHOTO COURTESY of SARA KAUSS PHOTOGRAPHY

Nice work, CBS and ACM

Tickets On Sale Soon For The 49th Annual ACM Awards Events

BLAKE SHELTON and LUKE BRYAN are again co-hosting the 49^TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.

Country Music’s Party of the Year®, the 49^TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, honoring country music’s best and introducing the industry’s hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 6, 2014.

ACM award-winning duo Florida Georgia Line will host the 4TH ANNUAL ACM FAN JAM at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Sunday, April 6, 2014. This live remote location gives country music lovers the ultimate fan-pass to be a part of the 49TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS! Throughout the three-hour Awards telecast from MGM Grand, there will be live ACM FAN JAM performances, via remote from the Mandalay Bay Events Center, by Florida Georgia Line and other top-tier music acts. The ACM FAN JAM continues after the Awards telecast ends, with performances by Florida Georgia Line.

The after-show party, ACM’s annual ALL-STAR JAM, held in the MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom, is the place to be immediately following the ACM Awards.

Stay over Monday, April 7, 2014, after the ACM Awards for another star-studded night!  For the past five years, the Academy has taped ACM PRESENTS, a special televised concert featuring and honoring artists such as George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Lionel Richie, Tim McGraw, and many others.  The Academy helps to fund ACM Lifting Lives through our televised specials. Each year, ACM Lifting Lives provides grants to music therapy and music education programs and helps endorse and contribute to country music artists’ favorite causes.  Proceeds from this special event benefit ACM Lifting Lives.  Stay tuned for more information on details about this special.

The Academy will announce its full schedule of The Week Vegas Goes Country® events in the coming weeks, which will include the ACM PARTY FOR A CAUSE FESTIVAL, a ticketed outdoor music festival featuring country’s top hit makers, to be held April 4-6, 2014 in Las Vegas.  This country music festival will once again feature LIVE country music performances from some of the biggest stars in the business, along with interactive games and a shopper’s paradise and country marketplace -- much, much more to be announced. 

Talent line-up and ticket on-sale will be announced in January 2014.

ACM And Jerrod Niemann Lift Lives

Everyone needs a little break from reality, and what better way to do it than by visiting the islands?! 

Well, we may not be able to send you to the tropics, but the ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers created an original song called “Livin’ on Island Time” with Niemann and songwriter Lance Miller that will do the trick! 

Check out a clip from their performance on the Grand Ole Opry and other highlights from the incredible week with Lauren Alaina, Jake Owen, Love and Theft and producer Ross Copperman. 

Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night

ACM has put together a Spotify playlist of some of Tim’s biggest hits and the songs his buddies made famous to get you primed to tune-in to CBS Sunday night 9pm ET/PT 8 pm CT for a great show.

Country Star Favorite Charities

“My Cause” artist and charities:

• Tim McGraw: Operation Homefront
• Jason Aldean: Susan G Komen
• The Band Perry: Notes for Notes
• Dierks Bentley: Miles & Music
• Luke Bryan: Shriners Hospital
• Florida Georgia Line: The Boot Campaign
• John Fogerty: Wounded Warrior Project
• Brantley Gilbert: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
• Faith Hill: Neighbor’s Keeper
• Lady Antebellum: LadyAID
• Nelly: Make-A-Wish Foundation (St. Louis Chapter)
• Ne-Yo: Compound Foundation
• Pitbull: Imagination Foundation
• Taylor Swift: MusiCares
• Keith Urban: MusiCares

Country artists are superstars with big hearts, and that was clearly displayed at this year’s ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night, which airs this Sunday on CBS. It was a night of laughs and great music in addition to supporting the charitable arm of the Academy,  ACM Lifting Lives.

 

Each artist that performed on the show was given the opportunity to select a charity of their choice to receive a $10,000 donation from ACM Lifting Lives. Click on the links below to watch “My Cause” videos and find out more about these great organizations.

Get Ready For April Fools Day ACM Excitement

YOU can be one of the lucky fans who gets to announce this year’s nominees for ACM Entertainer of the Year! The Academy, CBS and dick clark productions will host the first-ever ACM digital press conference via ACM social media channels this Thursday, Jan. 26th at 6:30 a.m. PT to announce the nominees for the 47th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.

ACM Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AcademyOfCountryMusic
ACM Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/ACMawards

Superstar and Academy of Country Music Awards co-host Reba will participate leading up to the event, with more VIP SURPRISE GUESTS to announce categories via videos posted in real time to fans and media simultaneously. The press conference will culminate with country music FANS announcing the nominees for Entertainer of the Year.

Fans are invited to visit the ACM YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/acmcountry to learn how to post videos announcing the name of the artist(s) they would like to see receive an Entertainer of the Year nomination. On Thursday, January 26th during the real-time digital press conference fans can watch to see if their video submission is used to announce their pick for the Academy’s biggest prize. And they’re in good company: Past participants in the ACM nominations press conferences have included Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and many more!

Country Music On TV

Faith Hill performed "Come Home" and Taylor Swift claimed the country award on last night's People's Choice Awards.

American Idol judge Randy Jackson believes Scotty McCreery has ended the perception that Idol winners don't have as great a career as the runner-ups. Jackson believes that each winner and singer is different, and it's all about making amazing and competitive songs. The new season of American Idol starts January 18th on Fox.

Chris Young will be making his debut appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show to sing his latest hit, “You”! Be sure to catch the episode when it airs on January 17th!

Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton pair-up again as hosts of this years Academy of Country Music Awards. The 47th annual show will be held Sunday, April 1, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The ACM’s Fan Jam also will return for a second year. This time Zac Brown Band will host the parallel event at the Mandalay Events Center.

ACM Thinking Phoenix

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pyrat_wesly/

The Academy of Country Music is being urged to reconsider bringing its annual awards show to Phoenix. 

"The Arizona Republic" says the group Sound Strike, which launched a boycott of Arizona after the state passed the controversial immigration bill SB 1070, doesn't want the ACM to hold the 2012 ACM Awards in the Valley of the Sun. 

However, Sound Strike organizer Javier Gonzalez doesn't specifically mentioned the law in his appeal. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer attended the ACM Awards this past April in an effort to persuade the Academy to come to the Phoenix area next year. 

The ACM is reportedly considering combining the awards show with the Country Thunder USA festival, which takes place each April in Florence, Arizona, for a "Super Bowl of country music" at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Source: Westwood One

ACM TV Show Planning For 2012

TV executives have already begun looking ahead and planning for 2012 ACM AWARDS Show. This year’s installment had the biggest ratings in the show’s history.


“Exactly 48 hours after the Sunday broadcast, it was time for the first planning session for the 2012 47th annual awards,” a top ACM staffer told Robin Leach. “It is one of the most ambitious logistical planning shows on the television calendar. We brought in over 150 staff and crew from Los Angeles and Nashville to pull it off this year. The load-in alone began 10 days prior and took nearly 1,300 hours. Add to that two hosts, 18 acts, 100-plus musicians and background singers and four special guests, and you understand the magnitude of it all — and the need to start planning literally the day after.”


Not willing to rest on the success of this year’s event, the ACM is already putting their efforts into making next year even better. “Now the conversations are on for next year already to make it even bigger, better and more spectacular. The two nights of free downtown concerts on Fremont Street were also an incredible success with record numbers. In all — record voting and record ratings. It was a very good year!,” the staffer said.


The ACM’s will remain in Las Vegas for 2012. City officials will meet with the ACM throughout the coming months to extend that deal to prevent the awards show from moving to Dallas’ Cowboys Stadium in 2013.