Jason Aldean photo courtesy of Broken Bow Records.

Today, the Academy of Country Music is announcing the winners of awards that will not be televised during the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, due to time constraints. The ceremony will be telecast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS. Special Awards, Industry Awards, MBI (Musician, Bandleader, Instrumentalist) and Songwriter of the Year honorees will be feted at the 7^th Annual ACM Honors event on September 10, 2013 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Keith Whitley and The Judds have been chosen to receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, honoring individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre.

Keith Whitley brought a blend of traditional bluegrass, classic country and contemporary songwriting influences to his timeless recordings. Although his catalog is regrettably small, this Kentucky native stands as one of the most respected vocalists of his era, thanks to a rich baritone that effortlessly conveyed the emotion of any song. Whitley first entered the Top 10 in 1986 with “Ten Feet Away,” setting the stage for enduring ballads like “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” “When You Say Nothing at All” and “I’m No Stranger to the Rain,” all of which reached No. 1 before Whitley died in 1989 at age 33.

The Judds gave country music an acoustic boost in the 1980s, ultimately racking up 20 Top 10 hits. They picked up seven consecutive ACM Awards in the Vocal Duet category, as well as a Song of the Year trophy for “Why Not Me.” Their winning streak began in 1984 with “Mama He’s Crazy,” the first of 14 No. 1 hits. Fans also identified with the ups and downs of Naomi and Wynonna’s mother-daughter relationship, adding another dimension to modern classics like the nostalgic “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)” and the empowering “Love Can Build a Bridge.”

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, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, the Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, Kenny Rogers, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Wills and Dwight Yoakam, among others.

Crystal Milestone Award – Jason Aldean has been chosen to receive the Crystal Milestone Award, which is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement.

Jason Aldean soared to stadium headliner status in 2012. He sold out his first stadium show last year, moving more than 27,000 tickets for Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. All tickets were purchased more than two months in advance. Aldean’s arena show tickets went quickly too. He sold 24,000 tickets in two minutes for his Indianapolis show, along with 20,000 seats in just four minutes in St. Louis. Aldean is now swinging for the rafters with his “Night Train Tour.” Stadium shows on the itinerary include Wrigley Field in Chicago, Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA, and Boston’s Fenway Park—which sold out in seven minutes, setting a venue record and making Aldean the first country act to headline the historic ballpark. The Academy is honoring Aldean for this remarkable achievement.

Past recipients of the Crystal Milestone Award include Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Gayle Holcomb, Jennifer Nettles and Taylor Swift.

Gene Weed Special Achievement Award – Blake Shelton has been chosen to receive the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, which acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music.

Blake Shelton stepped into his role on NBC’s The Voice as a well-known figure in country music circles. Now he’s a household name to millions of viewers who appreciate his lively personality, his honest approach toward aspiring talent and his camaraderie with pop stars like Christine Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine. That broad appeal paved the way for a network special to coincide with his first holiday album, Cheers, It’s Christmas. A three-time ACM Awards co-host, Shelton is climbing the charts with “Sure Be Cool If You Did.” Look for his “Ten Times Crazier Tour” starting in July.

Past recipients of the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award include Garth Brooks, George Burns, Jeff Foxworthy, Willie Nelson and George Strait.

Jim Reeves International Award – Lady Antebellum has been chosen to receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.

Lady Antebellum seized the day with their “Own the Night World Tour,” ultimately performing to more than a million fans in 11 countries and three continents. Along with packing venues in the U.S. and Canada, the trio sold out three shows at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Band members Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott also accepted the honor of opening for a musical hero, Bruce Springsteen, at London’s Hard Rock Calling. A three-time winner in the ACM Vocal Group category, Lady Antebellum will release its fourth studio album, Golden, in May, likely taking their newest hit “Downtown” around the globe.

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 and Keith Urban, among others.

Mae Boren Axton Award – Tommy Wiggins has been chosen as the recipient of 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.

Tommy Wiggins co-founded the organization that is now the Academy of Country Music. While pursuing opportunities performing on radio and on stage, Wiggins lived in Tucson and Nashville before relocating in 1960 to Los Angeles, where he appeared on local television shows. Along with releasing several singles on Stadium Records, Wiggins launched a radio industry publication titled D.J.’s Digest. In 1964, he teamed with songwriter Eddie Miller and club owners Mickey and Chris Christensen to stage a Los Angeles-based awards show and form the Country Western Music Academy–later renamed the Academy of Country Music–to draw attention to country artists based on the West Coast.

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 and David Young.

Poet’s Award – Guy Clark and Hank Williams have been selected to receive the Poet’s Award, which honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music.

Guy Clark has earned the respect of countless songwriters by crafting his compositions with wit, wisdom and warmth. This native Texan made a lasting impression with his 1975 debut album Old No. 1. His extensive songwriting catalog includes cuts by Johnny Cash (“Texas 1947”), Kenny Chesney (“Hemingway’s Whiskey”), Rodney Crowell (“She’s Crazy for Leaving”) and Ricky Skaggs (“Heartbroke”). Meanwhile, his own recordings of “L.A. Freeway” and “Desperadoes Waiting for a Train” make listeners feel as though they know him personally. The 2011 collection, This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark, received a Grammy nomination for best folk album.

Hank Williams remains one of the most revered songwriters in history. A native of Alabama, Williams’ commercial style found a champion in music publisher Fred Rose in 1946. Despite a brief career, Williams catalog includes “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Hey Good Lookin’” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” His compositions have been recorded by Tony Bennett, Jimmy Buffett, Norah Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride, Linda Ronstadt and Hank Williams Jr., among many others. The legendary figure was found dead on Jan. 1, 1953. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 and received the 1973 ACM Pioneer Award. Hank Williams will be honored posthumously.

Previous recipients of the Poet’s Award include Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Roger Miller, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz and Cindy Walker. Continue Reading

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LAS VEGAS – APRIL 06: ***EXCLUSIVE*** George Strait and Garth Brooks pose backstage during the 44th annual Academy Of Country Music Awards’ Artist of the Decade held at the MGM Grand on April 6, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Winter/ACM2009/Getty Images for ACM)

The Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions announced today that George Strait and Garth Brooks, the two most recent ACM Artist of the Decade Award recipients, will perform together for the first time in history to pay tribute to Dick Clark at the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7 (8-11 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) on CBS. The ACM Artist of the Decade Award will be renamed the ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award, in honor of the iconic figure and longtime producer of the Academy of Country Music Awards. The ceremony, to be co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, honors country music’s top talent, as well as the industry’s hottest emerging artists.

“Dick helped make country music accessible to a larger fan base and his efforts will not be forgotten. Garth and I were so grateful when we each received the ACM Artist of the Decade Award, so it’s only fitting that we’ll be honoring him with this tribute performance at the ACMs,” said George Strait.

“I commend the Academy on naming the ACM Artist of the Decade Award after Dick Clark. Although there is no award the entertainment industry has that can match the magnitude of the star Dick Clark was, and still is, it is an honor to get to be a part of the Academy’s tribute to him.  There may be others who have contributed as much to the music industry, but there is definitely no one that has contributed more than Dick Clark.  He was music’s best friend, and a dear friend to me,” said Garth Brooks.

Dick Clark, who passed away last year, began producing the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1979 and helped introduce audiences all over America to the most talented artists in country music. Clark had long been an ambassador for a wide-range of musical genres and with his guidance, ushered the Academy of Country Music Awards through the decades to become one of the industry’s biggest events.

“It is truly appropriate that we pay tribute to my father, longtime ACM Awards executive producer Dick Clark. As one of the current executive producers and Dick’s son, I’m honored that George and Garth graciously accepted my personal request to pay tribute to a man we all loved,” stated R.A. Clark.

“He was a friend to all of us and helped shape our organization.  There’s no doubt the Academy of Country Music wouldn’t be one of the highest-rated and watched awards shows without Dick’s vision and commitment,” commented Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music.

Recipients of the ACM Artist of the Decade Award include Strait in 2009, Brooks in 1998, Alabama in 1988, Loretta Lynn in 1979 and Marty Robbins in 1969. The ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award is an Academy honor bestowed on a country music artist only once every decade.

Performers:

George Strait has won twenty Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Artist of the Decade award, an award that has only been given to four other acts in the Academy’s history.  He also holds the record for the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He has sold more than 68 million records, garnering him 32 different platinum or multi-platinum albums resulting in the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. George recently released his newest single, “Give It All We’ve Got Tonight”—the first release from his forthcoming 2013 album, Love is Everything, due in stores on May 14. Strait also placed No. 1 on Pollstar’s Concert Pulse chart in March after the first leg of his on-going two-year final U.S. tour, “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour” with special guest Martina McBride.

Garth Brooks is a pivotal figure in the history of country music, garnering over twenty ACM Awards, including six Entertainer of the Year Awards, an Artist of the Decade award, and a Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, honoring individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre. Certified by the RIAA in 2000 as the No. 1-selling solo artist in U.S. history, Garth has sold in excess of over 128 million albums and has received every accolade the recording industry can bestow on an artist. With his commercially-savvy fusion of post-Merle Haggard country, honky-tonk, post-folk-rock sensitive singer/songwriter sensibilities, and ’70s arena rock dramatics, Garth brought country music to a new audience in the ’90s — namely, a mass audience. Before Garth, it was inconceivable for a country artist to go multi-platinum. He shattered that barrier in 1991, when his second album, No Fences, began its chart domination, and its follow-up, Ropin’ the Wind, became the first country album to debut at the top of the pop charts. He is currently raising his children in Oklahoma.

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Photo courtesy of Hot Schatz PR.

Forty years ago, country supergroup Alabama paid their dues as the summertime house band of a tiny bar in Myrtle Beach, S.C. called The Bowery. As they prepare to launch their 2013 Back to the Bowery Tour, Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook are holding a special fan appreciation concert to relive the memories made from the very stage where it all started back in 1973.

On Thursday, April 4, they’ll perform at the historic Bowery in a free concert for those who have supported their career over the past 40 years. Current fan club members will have the opportunity to win their way into the intimate concert through a special lottery drawing, with the remaining standing room only capacity being available to follow on a first come, first serve basis.

Alabama photo courtesy of Hot Schatz PR.

As all Alabama fans know, after the group left The Bowery they went on to break records and make history as one of the most recognized and respected bands in country music. At next month’s show, fan are guaranteed to enjoy a stellar show with back-to-back hits, including “Song of the South,” “Love in the First Degree,” “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band),” and many more. Continue Reading

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Brett Eldredge photo courtesy of WMG Nashville.

Brett Eldredge will world premiere his new video, “Don’t Ya,” today on GAC’s Daily Countdown! In the clip, Brett flirts with a pretty brunette across the room at a house party in one scene and then does a little onstage flirting in a performance scene.

Does Brett get the girl? Watch Daily Countdown today at 12P/11C and again tonight at 6/5C! Continue Reading

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Grand Ole Opry member Jack Greene. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry.

GAC extends condolences to the family, friends and fans of Grand Ole Opry star Jack Greene, who passed away peacefully in his sleep last night at his Nashville home, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Jack had been
a member of the Opry since 1967 and was 83 years old. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be posted on opry.com when they are available.

Jack was born and raised in Maryville, TN and began his career at age 17 working in radio in Maryville and Knoxville. In the 1950s he moved to Atlanta, GA, where he formed his first band, The Peach Tree Cowboys.  He moved back to Tennessee in 1962 and was enlisted by Ernest Tubb to join his band, The Texas Troubadours, as drummer.  Jack’s skills as a vocalist and guitarist soon thrust him into the spotlight and he began opening shows for Ernest. In 1964, Jack released his first solo single, “The Last Letter.” Ernest encouraged him to pursue a solo career and he signed with Decca Records.  His first Top 40 hit was in 1966 with “Ever Since My Baby Went Away.”  Later that year, “There Goes My Everything” was released and became a huge hit, holding the No. 1 spot on the country chart for seven weeks and the There Goes My Everything album held the No. 1 chart position for a full year.

In 1967 Jack swept the inaugural Country Music Association Awards by winning Male Vocalist of the Year as well as Album, Song, and Single of the Year for “There Goes My Everything.”  He was the first country performer to be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1967.

In 1970, Jack partnered with his fellow Opry member Jeannie Seely and they formed one of country music’s most successful duos as he also continued his solo career. The Associated Press once called Jack “the Garth Brooks of his era” and Garth demanded Continue Reading

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Darius Rucker photo by Jim Wright courtesy of Essential Broadcast Media.

The Academy of Country Music announced today that chart-topping country music star Darius Rucker will host the ACM Lifting Lives® Celebrity Golf Classic at TPC Las Vegas for the second consecutive year on Saturday, April 6, 2013. The ACM Lifting Lives Celebrity Golf Classic, ACM Weekend at Fremont Street Experience, ACM Party for a Cause Festival, THE ACM EXPERIENCE and more will all be taking place in conjunction with “The Week Vegas Goes Country®,” leading up to the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards­, a star-studded event produced for television by dick clark productions, that will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

The ACM Lifting Lives® Celebrity Golf Classic—the seventh held since 2004—brings together country music artists, record label executives and other members of the music community in a star-studded scramble tournament to raise funds and awareness for ACM Lifting Lives’ Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund, which provides immediate relief to those in need in the music industry.

Darius, an avid golfer, has been very involved with ACM Lifting Lives. Continue Reading

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Inspired by a visit to one of the largest citrus groves in Central Florida, Kimberly Schlapman and guest Craig Morgan get their citrus on with a menu that makes the most out of these zesty flavors. Photo courtesy of Sandbox Entertainment.

From monster machines to kissing cows to citrus groves, the premiere of Season 2 of Kimberly’s Simply Southern has it all! Tune in Saturday, March 9 at 1P/12C. To kick off the first episode, Little Big Town‘s Kimberly Schlapman traveled to Florida to visit The Showcase of Citrus, a farm with over 70 varieties of citrus. Then she returned to Nashville armed with lemon, lime and orange-inspired recipes and welcomed Craig Morgan into her kitchen.

In this Saturday’s show, Kimberly and Craig will make chicken cutlets with lemon-herb butter; citrus salad with poppyseed-lemon vinaigrette; and citrus cake with key-lime glaze — which requires quite a bit of zesting (scraping the skin of the fruit).

What’s the secret to proper zesting? Continue Reading

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Dawn Sears photo by Jim McGuire, courtesy of Morris Public Relations.

Dawn Sears, stellar vocalist and member of Rounder Record’s 4-time Grammy-nominated band The Time Jumpers, has been diagnosed with Stage 3B lung cancer. Dawn is also a long-time member of Vince Gill’s touring band.  She is currently undergoing treatment in Nashville, TN and plans to continue performing at the band’s regular Monday night show at 3^rd & Lindsley in Nashville until her treatment dictates otherwise.

Dawn’s husband and band mate Kenny Sears has asked for the family’s privacy to be considered as they move through this very difficult period.

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Blake Shelton & Luke Bryan photo courtesy of the ACM.

The Academy of Country Music announced today that Luke Bryan, Kelly Clarkson, Hunter Hayes, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, George Strait and The Band Perry are scheduled to perform as part of the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.  This is the first round of artists announced as performers on this year’s broadcast. The ceremony, which will be co-hosted by Luke and Blake, honors country music’s top talent, as well as the industry’s hottest emerging artists, is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Performers:

Luke Bryan will be co-hosting the Awards telecast for the first time and is one of the fastest rising stars in country music.  He is nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for tailgates & tanlines, and Vocal Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Jason Aldean and Eric Church.  He is currently headlining his first major tour, the “Dirt Road Diaries Tour,” and has earned five platinum singles.

Kelly Clarkson is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “Don’t Rush” with Vince Gill, her third nomination in that category.  Last year, she took home two ACM Awards, including Vocal Event of the Year and Single Record of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean.  To date, Clarkson has released 5 studio albums, sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, 10 million albums in the U.S., and has had 10 singles in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Clarkson recently won the GRAMMY® for Best Pop Vocal Album for her last studio album Stronger. Last November, she released her Greatest Hits – Chapter 1 album, which features three new tracks, as well as a compilation of some of her greatest hits to date.

Hunter Hayes has six ACM nominations, including two in the Song of the Year category as the artist and composer, as well as in the Single Record of the Year category as the artist and producer for “Wanted.”  He rounds out his nominations with New Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for “Wanted.”  Hunter’s GRAMMY® nominated self-titled debut album has garnered three smash hits, including his current single, “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” which has already entered the Top 5 and is certified Gold, as well as his near Triple Platinum-selling No. 1 single “Wanted.”  Hunter Hayes is a celebrated musician, songwriter and performer who is currently on the “Blown Away Tour” with Carrie Underwood. Continue Reading

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Keith Urban at the We’re All for the Hall benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, April 10, 2012 in Nashville. Photos by Donn Jones Photography, courtesy of Rubin Media.

2005 CMA Entertainer of the Year and four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban and Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill will return to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday, April 16, for We’re All for the Hall, a concert to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum. Reserved seating tickets, which are priced at $35 and $50 (does not include Ticketmaster surcharge), will go on sale Friday, March 1 at 10 a.m. CST.  A limited number of VIP ticket packages will also go on sale on March 1 at Ticketmaster.com. (Complete ticket purchase information is below.)

Photos from the 2012 We’re All for the Hall Benefit >>

This year’s theme Rebels and Renegades, the Outlaws are IN will feature performances from an all-star line-up including Keith, Vince, Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rosanne Cash, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Kid Rock, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver and Hank Williams, Jr.  It promises to be yet another in a line of one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime concert events highlighting great music, friendship and camaraderie.

“The purity in making music on your own terms – to create art in your own way – for me is at the heart of the outlaw spirit,” said Keith.  “It’s those outlaws that we celebrate this year, who not only made it possible for a guy like me to do what I love, but who play a pivotal role in the strength of country music’s diversity.”

Museum Board President Vince Gill created All for the Hall, an artist-led fundraising initiative for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Funds raised through these events directly support the museum’s mission and underwrite preservation efforts, exhibitions and educational programs that teach audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music.

“The first three We’re All for the Hall concerts raised approximately $1.5 million,” said Museum Director Kyle Young.  “Those dollars go toward our operating expenses, directly funding the care of our collection, exhibitions, programs and more. We are beyond grateful to Keith Urban and Vince Gill.  They are two of country music’s greatest stewards and ambassadors, and we are honored by what they have done for this institution. I’m certain that this year’s We’re All for the Hall show will not only be an important source of revenue for the museum, but a ‘once-in-a-lifetime, only-in-Nashville’ concert for everyone lucky enough to attend.” Continue Reading

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