Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes & Scotty McCreery are the 2012 ACM New Artist of the Year Final Nominees.

The Academy of Country Music and Great American Country (GAC) announced today that Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes and Scotty McCreery have been named nominees for this year’s ACM New Artist of the Year Award, which will be given out during the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Voting for New Artist of the Year will take place at www.VoteACM.com beginning March 19, 2012 at 12 noon ET/9 a.m. PT and will continue until 5 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 1, 2012 (before the LIVE show starts).  The New Artist of the Year final nominees were selected by a combined vote of the fans and professional members of the Academy of Country Music. Professional member votes will be combined with fan votes to obtain the winner of the category for the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.

Leading up to the show, fans can watch interviews and exclusive performances with the three nominees on GAC’s “ACM New Artist of the Year” special, premiering Monday, March 19, 2012 at 9 p.m. ET and re-airing multiple times until voting closes on April 1. Additional air times and dates can be found at GACtv.com/ACM.

The winner of the New Artist of the Year category will be awarded on the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

About the ACM New Artist of the Year Nominees:

Brantley Gilbert
At the age of 27, Brantley Gilbert already has an impressive list of industry accolades. The deluxe version of the rising star’s sophomore album, Halfway to Heaven Deluxe, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart in September 2011. Collectively, the standard and deluxe versions of Halfway to Heaven have already sold almost 500,000 albums to date. Brantley’s first single on The Valory Music Co., “Country Must Be Country Wide,” recently scored the No. 1 spot at country radio. As a celebrated songwriter, Brantley also penned three No. 1 hits – “My Kinda Party,” “Dirt Road Anthem,” and most recently, “Country Must Be Country Wide.” In addition to playing his own headlining dates, Brantley is currently on the road with Eric Church for his The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour. For tour dates and more on Brantley visit: www.facebook.com/BrantleyGilbertMusic<http://www.facebook.com/BrantleyGilbertMusic>.

Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes is the only 2011 debut artist to play every instrument, write/co-write every song and co-produce his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. This multi-instrumentalist garnered praise with recent national television appearances on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  Billboard calls Hunter “a prodigious talent…drawing on modern pop and country sounds – including Keith Urban, John Mayer, Rascal Flatts and Jason Mraz.” USA Today raves “if this Louisiana singer is as good as this single [Storm Warning], he’s about to be a big country star.” He has co-written songs for Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry and has shared the stage with Trace Adkins, Lady Antebellum, Hank Williams, Jr., Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and more. Hunter is currently on his first headlining Most Wanted Tour, with sold out dates across the country.

Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery’s debut album, Clear As Day, was certified platinum in just three months, and he was recently named No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s list of Top New Country Artists for 2011. Clear As Day debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts, making him the youngest man in history to open at the top of the all-genre chart with a debut release. It garnered the highest sales of any country solo album released last year and held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for six weeks. The album’s first single, “I Love You  This Big,” has been certified gold, and his current single, “The Trouble With Girls,” is approaching gold status. He is currently touring as part of Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour 2012 presented by Chevrolet.

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Reba McEntire & Blake Shelton photo courtesy of the ACM.

If you’ve heard any rumblings this morning about Reba McEntire‘s death, don’t worry — it isn’t true! A website called “Global Associated News,” which seemingly makes a habit of publishing fake stories (according to the site’s disclaimer), reported that Reba died this morning in Austria while filming a movie.

As the story began being re-Tweeted and shared on Facebook, Reba’s label, The Valory Music Co., released this statement in response:

“Contrary to ludicrous reports, Reba has not passed away, nor was she even in Austria at the time of her alleged death. Global Associated News, who devised this latest celebrity hoax, is an entertainment site that generates ‘totally fake articles based on zero truth.’ Reba is alive and well, but would like to thank her loyal fans for their concern.”

Fans can see Reba on Sunday, April 1 when she co-hosts the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards with Blake Shelton, live on CBS at 8/7c.

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“It’s an honor to receive so much love from the Academy of Country Music after all they’ve done to support my music over the years,” Kenny said. “I can’t wait to get back on the road with my good friend Tim and throw one big spring break party all summer long.”

Blake Shelton is nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He learned of his ACM nominations a week after losing his father, Dick Shelton. “The support I have felt this week is overwhelming,” Blake said. “Thank you everyone for this honor.”

Jason Aldean took to video to thank his fans for all of their support after learning he’s nominated for six ACMs, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year.


Jason Aldean on WhoSay

SEE THE FULL LIST OF ACM AWARDS ARTIST NOMINEES HERE >>

Reigning ACM Top New Solo Vocalist Eric Church is nominated for Video of the Year for “Homeboy” and his latest album, Chief, is up for Album of the Year. He sees the Album of the Year nod as an especially high honor.

“I’ve never minced words about the fact that my passion is making great records for the sake of the music,” he said. “The fact that the ACMs have nominated us for the album category is quite the honor and frankly the one I revere the most. “Homeboy,” both musically and visually, is a song that tells a compelling story. I have a very special place in my heart for the video, and I’m very grateful that it is getting recognized. It’s been one hell of a year!”

Chris Young woke up on a tour bus en route to his next show on Miranda Lambert’s On Fire Tour to learn he’s nominated for both Single Record of the Year for his No. 1 hit “Tomorrow” and Male Vocalist Of The Year. He also recorded a video message to share his excitement with his fans.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Montgomery Gentry received their 14th ACM nomination when their name was included in the Duo of the Year category. With a year that has brought a lot of change for the duo, they are thrilled to be recognized.

“This last year has been just unbelievable,” Eddie Montgomery said. “We have a new album that T and I are so proud of, a new label that is rockin’ and the support we’ve had from our friends at radio and on the road is just awesome.”

“We are really proud to be nominated and blessed to be living our dream for as long as we have been,” Troy Gentry added. “As always, we are truly humbled to be included in this category once again.”

Lee Brice is nominated for Song of the Year as a co-writer alongside Liz Rose for Eli Young Band’s No. 1 hit “Crazy Girl.” “Liz Rose and I were just fortunate enough to be in the same room that magical day and wrote a magical song,” Lee said. “Within a few hours, the song came together. I’m so honored to be acknowledged along with these other amazing writers.”

The ACM Awards, hosted once again by Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire, will air live from Las Vegas on April 1 at 8/7 CT on CBS .

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On Thursday, January 26, the ACM will host the first-ever ACM digital press conference (also hosted by CBS Television and dick clark productions) via the ACM social media channels, www.facebook.com/AcademyOfCountryMusic and www.twitter.com/ACMAwards.

The press conference will announce the nominees for the 47^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

During the real-time digital press conference, you can watch to see if your video submission was chosen to announce your pick for the Academy’s biggest prize. If your video is selected, you’ll be 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!

Academy of Country Music Awards co-host Reba will participate in the nominees announcement, 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.

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Luke Bryan & Eric Church.

Luke Bryan and Eric Church will headline the Fremont Street Experience during ACM Awards Weekend March 30-31. Luke will headline Friday, March 30, and Eric on March 31. The concerts will be part of ‘The Week Vegas Goes Country’  leading up to the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

For the sixth year in a row, the ACM will hold free and open-to-the-public concerts starting at 6:30 p.m. on two stages in downtown Las Vegas. The weekend-long party is sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and features performances by headliners and emerging artists. Show times, additional performers and stage locations will be announced soon.

For the fourth year, fans can help choose the ACM New Artist of the Year. They can visit VoteACM.com and GACTV.com/ACM to vote on the eight semi-finalists through January 30 at noon/EST. Final round voting for the New Artist category will begin at VoteACM.com on Monday, March 19 and will close on April 1 with the winner announced during the ACM Awards airing live that night on CBS at 8/7 CT.

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Fan voting for the ACM New Artist of the Year semi-finalists runs from Jan. 16-30, 2012!

Eight of country music’s most talented newcomers — each competing for the Academy of Country Music’s New Artist of the Year honor – will be featured on ACM Showcase, Monday, January 16 at 8/7c on GAC, check schedule for more times. The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be held Sunday, April 1, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Host Storme Warren will interview Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, JT Hodges, Scotty McCreery, Justin Moore, David Nail, Jerrod Niemann and duo Thompson Square, catching up with each on the remarkable year they’ve had. These eight semi-finalists were chosen by the first round of ACM professional membership voting and the fans will help choose the three finalists. Online voting is now open at gactv.com/acm and closes Monday, January 30 Noon ET and fans may vote once per day. When the three final nominees are chosen, online voting for the New Artist of the Year honor begins Monday, March 19, at 3pm ET by logging on to VoteACM.com.

“We’re pleased to once again partner with the Academy of Country Music to offer fans the chance to help make country music history by casting their vote for New Artist of the Year,” said GAC VP/Programming, Suzanne Gordon. “Our strong platform of new artist specials gives viewers an opportunity to find out more about these hot young performers.”

The three finalists will then be featured on ACM New Artist of the Year, a performance special premiering Monday, March 19, 9/8c on GAC. The winner of the New Artist of the Year honor will be announced on the 47th ACM Awards telecast LIVE on Sunday, April 1, 2012.

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The Academy of Country Music combined all newcomer categories into a single combined, overall category for New Artist of the Year.  The New Artist of the Year award absorbs all newcomer categories including New Male Vocalist, New Female Vocalist, New Vocal Duo, New Vocal Group, New Solo Vocalist and New Vocal Duo or Group categories from past years, and the winner will be revealed on the LIVE telecast at the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.  The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

The top 8 artists from the first round of ACM professional voting are considered semi-finalists and will compete via the GAC fan vote at GACTV.com/ACM, combined with the ACM professional membership vote, to determine the final 3 nominees for the Award.  The final 3 nominees will compete for the trophy, with a combined fan and professional membership vote to determine the winner. Don’t miss our special, ACM Showcase 2012, hosted by Storme Warren and featuring interviews with all 8 semi-finalists, premiering Monday, January 16 at  8/7c.

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR semi-finalists are:

• Brantley Gilbert
• Hunter Hayes
• JT Hodges
• David Nail
• Jerrod Niemann
• Justin Moore
• Scotty McCreery
• Thompson Square

First round fan voting for New Artist of the Year will begin at www.VoteACM.com and www.GACTV.com/ACM on Monday, Jan. 16  at 9 a.m. ET, and will close on Monday, Jan. 30 at Noon ET.  The final three nominees will be announced in February and will move on to compete for ACM New Artist of the Year.  Final round voting for the New Artist category will begin at VoteACM.com on Monday, March 19 and will close on April 1, with the winner being announced live during the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast on CBS on Sunday, April 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

As part of this partnership, GAC will air several stand-alone specials, including a show featuring the top eight semi-finalists, as well as a show featuring the final nominees who will compete for New Artist.  The first GAC special “ACM Showcase” will feature all eight semi-finalists, and will premiere Monday, January 16 at 8 p.m. ET. This special will re-air through January 30, when voting closes.  The GAC “ACM New Artist of the Year” special will feature interviews and exclusive performances with the final three nominees.  That special premieres March 19 at 9 p.m. ET and airs through April 1.

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Reba McEntire & Blake Shelton photo courtesy of the ACM.

Country Music’s Party of the Year®, the 47^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 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. live Eastern/delayed Pacific on CBS. The show is produced by dick clark productions and will be hosted for the second consecutive year by Reba and Blake Shelton.

The 2^nd Annual ACM Fan Jam, hosted by Zac Brown Band, will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Sunday, April 1, 2012. This live remote location gives country music lovers the ultimate fan-pass to be part of the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards!  Throughout the three-hour Awards telecast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, there will be live ACM Fan Jam performances, via remote, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center by Zac Brown Band and other top-tier music acts, to be announced at a later date.

The ACM Fan Jam includes a profusion of entertainment, prizes and special giveaways only for attendees, including autographed guitars, trip packages to country music events and merchandise.  The ACM Fan Jam continues after the Awards telecasts ends, with performances by Zac Brown and friends. Details will be announced soon. The inaugural ACM Fan Jam, hosted by Sugarland, took place in 2011.

Additionally, the Academy and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends – A Lifetime of Hits, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Monday, April 2, 2012, to air at a later date on the CBS Television Network.  This country collaboration with the legendary Lionel Richie, featuring duets from his upcoming album Tuskegee along with solo performances, will include some of Richie’s greatest hits performed by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more. Tickets sales from ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends – A Lifetime of Hits will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, which works to improve lives through music. For more information, log onto www.ACMLiftingLives.org or www.ACMcountry.com.

For event updates, ticket on-sale dates and hotel information, please visit www.ACMcountry.com.  Country fans may sign up for the ACM A-List for FREE at www.ACMcountry.com.  ACM A-Listers will receive the ticket purchase pre-sale code and information on discounted room rates at MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, based on availability. The Academy will announce its full schedule of The Week Vegas Goes Country® events in the upcoming weeks.

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Eric Church photo by Jim Wright, courtesy of Capitol Nashville; The Band Perry photo by Joseph Anthony Baker, courtesy of Republic Nashville.

When it’s time for fans to cast their votes for ACM New Artist of the Year in early 2012, the category will look a little different. The Academy of Country Music has announced they will combine all newcomer categories including New Male Vocalist, New Female Vocalist, New Vocal Duo, New Vocal Group, New Solo Vocalist and New Vocal Duo or Group into one overall New Artist of the Year award. The winner will be revealed during the telecast of the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards to be held in the spring.

The top 8 artists from the first round of ACM professional voting will be announced as semi-finalists for the award. Fans will then be able to cast their votes right here at GACTV.com and their votes, combined with the ACM professional membership vote, will determine the final 3 nominees in the New Artist category. The winner will then be determined from a combined fan and professional membership vote.

See videos, photos and more from the 46th Annual ACM Awards! >>

Last year, fans voted Eric Church as Top New Solo Vocalist and The Band Perry as Top New Vocal Duo or Group, with The Band Perry going on to be named Top New Artist. Nominees for the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be announced in February 2012. For more information on ACM Awards criteria, visit http://www.acmcountry.com/awards/votingcriteria.php.

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LeAnn Rimes performing at Lifting Lives at Joe’s Bar. Photo by Jeff Dykhuis/Courtesy of ACM Lifting Lives.

LeAnn Rimes headlined the first-ever ACM Lifting Lives benefit concert in Chicago on August 15 which also featured Crystal Bowersox. The event raised $11,000 and took place at current ACM Nightclub of the Year, Joe’s Bar Chicago. The club’s owner, Ed Warm, headed the event and also underwrote the cost, including food and drinks for every ticket buyer, to ensure that each ticket purchased went to ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music.

“The generosity that Ed Warm has shown to ACM Lifting Lives is unparalleled,” Gayle Holcomb, Chairman of ACM Lifting Lives, said. “He took a small idea and turned it into a very successful first-ever club event for charity, which in turn benefits so many worthy organizations.”

“As someone whose life revolves around the music industry, I am honored to help support ACM Lifting Lives in their efforts to improve lives through the power of music,” Ed said. “The night was very special for everyone who attended and we can’t thank LeAnn and Crystal enough.”

ACM Lifting Lives is the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Each year, ACM Lifting Lives provides grants to music therapy and music education programs as well as serves members of the country music community who face unexpected medical or financial hardship. Visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org for more information.

Chicago-based philanthropies were also recognized by ACM Lifting Lives with charitable gifts totaling $75,000. Organizations that received funds include Chicago’s Children Choir, Merit School of Music, the Ravinia Festival and Snow City Arts.

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