Chris Young photo by Randee St. Nicholas, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Chris Young will host the CMA’s Third Annual Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert on January 31 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. The event will showcase groups from Metro Nashville Public Schools who have benefited from the CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program.

Five Nashville school groups will perform during the show, including a special duet with Suzy Bogguss and the Glengarry Elementary Orff Ensemble and Singers. Chris will perform with Nashville School of the Arts students Mignon Grabois and Charley Woods, who performed their rendition of “If I Die Young” during the CMA Awards in November.

“This event is an inspiring reminder of what students can achieve if given the right tools and support,” Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer, said. “We’re extremely grateful to the artists who played during the 2011 CMA Music Festival for giving the next generation of musicians the opportunity to learn the joys of music and shine on this exquisite stage.”

“Keeping the arts alive in schools is influential on their growth as students and young adults,” Chris said. “Music education played an important role in my childhood and I’m proud to be a part of this Keep the Music Playing event.” Continue Reading

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Luke Bryan photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Zac Brown Band have been added to the lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during this year’s CMA Music Festival. Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Carrie Underwood were previously announced as performers. This year’s CMA Fest will take place June 7-10 in Nashville.

Faith will be returning to the CMA Fest stage for the first time since 2008 after debuting her current single, “Come Home,” on the CMA Awards, while Eric will be making his LP Field debut. Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also purchase them by calling 1-(800)-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Continue Reading

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Jason Aldean photo courtesy of Broken Bow Records.

Jason Aldean and The Band Perry have been announced as performers during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during the 2012 CMA Music Festival. The CMA Music Festival will take place in downtown Nashville June 7-10. Carrie Underwood was announced as a performer during the LP Field shows last week.

Jason and The Band Perry both picked up their first CMA Awards last month. Jason won Album of the Year for his triple platinum My Kinda Party album as well as Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson. The Band Perry picked up CMAs for Single of the Year for “If I Die Young” and New Artist of the Year and lead singer Kimberly Perry was awarded the CMA Award for Song of the Year for writing “If I Die Young.” Check out CMA Awards photos HERE. Continue Reading

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Trace Adkins will perform during "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" airing Sunday, Aug.14, on the ABC Television Network. Trace is pictured performing at the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during the 2011 CMA Music Festival. Photographer: John Russell / CMA.

Trace Adkins has been added to the list of performers appearing during CMA Music Festval: Country’s Night To Rock. The three hour primetime concert special will air on ABC on August 14 at 8/7 CT. The special was taped during this year’s CMA Music Festival in Nashville.

Trace joins a lineup that includes performances at LP Field from Alabama with Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Josh Turner featuring Scotty McCreery, Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson , Martina McBride with Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift,  Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley and Little Big Town. Continue Reading

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Dierks Bentley & Little Big Town photos courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Dierks Bentley and Little Big Town have been added to the list of performers appearing during the three-hour, primetime special “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock. The special, filmed during this year’s CMA Music Festival, airs Sunday, August 7 at 8/7 CT on ABC.

“The strength of this television special, and the format, is the diversity of our stars and the depth of their talent,” Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer, said. “No matter what your taste, or which end of the country music spectrum you chose, you will find artists and performances in the special that will keep you entertained.” Continue Reading

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Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins perform at the Nightly Concerts at LP Field on Sunday, June 12 in Downtown Nashville during the 2011 CMA Music Festival. Photo by Sara Kauss Photography.

This year’s CMA Music Festival is coming to a living room near you. ABC will air CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock on Sunday, August 7 at 8/7 CT. Filmed June 9-12 at LP Field in Nashville, the special will feature performances from Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band and more. Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Kellie Pickler shares adventures from CMA Music Festival, Blake Shelton brags about his tickets for Brad Paisley’s show, Katie Armiger demonstrates what a trip to Starbucks sans coffee looks like, and Brad has a little fun at the expense of his drummer. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/KatieArimger.

Katie Armiger – @KatieArmiger: This is what it’s like going to Starbucks and not drinking coffee. Why did I decide to give up coffee again??

Kellie Pickler – @KelliePickler: Today in my meet and greet line a fan proposed to his girlfriend. Then another fan went into labor (her water broke)! Only at #CMAFest

Frankie Ballard – @FrankieBallard: Today, Im turning my bedroom into a sanctuary..possibly a terrarium.

Kip Moore - @KipMooreMusic: 3 straight days of playing at cma fest and now bout to leave for bonnaroo… No since in bathing now

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/BlakeShelton.

Blake Shelton – @BlakeShelton: OMG!!!! Still can’t believe these badass tickets I got for Brad Paisley show!!! I’m so close!!! Continue Reading

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Vince Gill with GAC host Nan Kelley at the 21st annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Greer Stadium in Nashville. Photo by Sara Kauss Photography.

This week on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown, Nan Kelley is trading her high heels for baseball cleats and heading to the ball field to hang out with Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, American Idol’s Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, David Nail, Chuck Wicks and many more at the 21st annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge during the CMA Music Festival. Nan snagged interviews with a number of country stars and professional athletes so be sure to tune in tonight at 8/7 CT to see who she stole a few minutes with before they took the field. Plus, see which videos made your Top 20 this week! Continue Reading

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Martina McBride photo courtesy of Republic Nashville.

Martina McBride helped the YWCA Celebrity Auction bring in over $153,000 on Sunday, June 12, a 50% increase over last year’s total.  Martina has hosted the event since 1995 and it was the dress she wore at the Grand Ole Opry re-opening following the Nashville floods that brought in the highest bid of the night, when a fan from Texas paid $27,000 for it.

“I am always amazed at the big hearts of country music fans,” Martina said. “Even in these tough economic times, they realize there is a need to help these women and children who have taken the first step toward getting out of a bad situation and are starting their life over. Their compassion and generosity inspires me.”

“It is Martina’s genuine support and the devotion of her fans that help make the auction so successful each year,” Pat Shea, CEO of the YWCA, said. “She not only raised these dollars, but helped educate the audience about domestic violence as she encouraged their support. It is so amazing to me that Martina and her fans helped us raise over $150,000 in a few hours. Those dollars will help the YWCA serve women and children who need counseling, medical care, support and emergency shelter as they flee violent homes.  We are very grateful to Martina.” Continue Reading

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Jake Owen at the 21st annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Greer Stadium in Nashville. Photo by Sara Kauss Photography.

Country stars stepped up to the batter’s box on Saturday, June 11 for the 21st Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge. Pitting the Grand Ole Opry team against the AfterMidnite With Blair Garner team, the game has become a staple of the CMA Music Festival. This year, more than 5,000 fans were on hand to see the AfterMidnite team win 9-5. More than $100,000 was raised for City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading research, treatment and education centers for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Team AfterMidnite was comprised of Chuck Wicks, David Nail, Jake Owen, James Wesley, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, Joe Nichols, Julie Roberts, Lauren Alaina, Nick Spaling, Preston Burst of the LoCash Cowboys, Rob Bironas, Shane Tallant and GAC’s own Suzanne Alexander.

The Grand Ole Opry team roster included Blake Continue Reading

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