Taylor Swift arrives at the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, April 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

Taylor Swift was recently in our studio visiting with Top 20 Country Countdown host Nan Kelley, talking about her Speak Now 2011 World Tour and her big Entertainer of the Year win at the ACM Awards. With such a successful career in a very short time, Taylor’s been an inspiration to many aspiring artists. When Nan asked Taylor who she looks to for inspiration, Taylor named another country and pop superstar. Watch the clip below Continue Reading

ShareThis

Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

After winning the ACM award for Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift visited The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. She bragged about her hometown of Nashville and said she loves Music City because its natives treat awards shows like the Super Bowl. The day before the show, Taylor said strangers stopped her on the street, in stores and in restaurants to wish her good luck.

“I was really happy that the fans were so nice to me this year,” she told Jay.

Taylor also discussed her hidden talent – cutting hair – and how her lucky number, 13, revealed itself to her the night of the ACMs. Watch the clip below to find out — and then head on over to our ACM Awards section to watch our backstage interview with Taylor! Continue Reading

ShareThis

LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 3: Singer Taylor Swift arrives at the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, April 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup); LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 3: Recording artist Miranda Lambert arrives at the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, April 3, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup).

Story by Vernell Hackett
Taylor Swift’s new single, “Mean,” is a swipe at all her naysayers and critics. But tonight at the 46^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, there were only good vibes as she took home the fan-voted trophy for Entertainer of the Year.

“This is the first time I’ve ever won this and I’m losing my mind,” Taylor said. “The fact it is from the fans makes it even more special. You are best thing that has ever happened to me, ever. Thank you so much.”

Before presenting the Entertainer of the Year award to Taylor, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest told the audience, “Everyone is saying this has been a great night for country music, but I disagree. I think it has been a great night for American music.” 

Later in the press room, Taylor said winning the night’s top award has such special meaning for her because all her heroes have also won it. “So many of them have taken me under their wing,” said Taylor, “like Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, George Strait … and then you look back to people like Shania Twain and Garth Brooks, who are two people I’m in awe of and are people I think of when I think of ‘entertainer.’ To know that I’m mentioned in the same breath with them is mind boggling.”

Actors Reese Witherspoon and Rob Pattinson were recently in Tennessee shooting their new movie Water for Elephants, and since Reese is a Nashville native, she was a perfect choice for presenter. The two presented Miranda Lambert with the Top Female Vocalist award – but not before Twilight star Pattinson admitted what he liked best about Tennessee – “the moonshine.”

Hearing her name called, Miranda graciously exclaimed, “I don’t know why I’m up here. I’m so blessed and so humble, and I thank God for giving me the blessing of living my dream. I love country music and I thank my fans.”

Miranda was the top winner of the night, taking home four awards: Top Female Vocalist; Single and Video of the Year; and she shared Song of the Year honors with writers Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin.

Later backstage, Miranda admitted, “I’m still excited from last year. I just expected to come here and chill and be happy to be here, because last year was such a great year. I feel so humble. I can’t express how blessed I feel.”

Miranda’s brother, Luke, was her date for the evening because “my fiancé was obviously busy,” she added. Continue Reading

ShareThis

The 2011 ACM Awards Entertainer of the Year nominees, clockwise from top left: Jason Aldean; Toby Keith; Miranda Lambert; Brad Paisley; Taylor Swift; Keith Urban.

The RAM Truck Brand and the Academy of Country Music announced today that Entertainer of the Year and New Artist fan voting will be powered by the RAM Truck Brand, for the second year in a row.  Country music fans everywhere have the power to choose the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year and New Artist by casting their votes now on http://voteacm.com. The winners will be announced live on the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be broadcast from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 3 (8- 11 p.m., live ET/delayed PT) on CBS. This year, for the first time ever, the ACM Awards will feature the ACM RAM Red Carpet to welcome country’s biggest stars to the show. 

Entertainer of the Year and New Artist fan voting – powered by the RAM Truck Brand – will provide fans the opportunity to vote for the Academy’s most prestigious award, Entertainer of the Year, for which Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban are nominated (see photo above), as well as the New Artist award, for which The Band Perry and Eric Church will compete (see photo below).

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

Fan voting for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist is open now at http://voteacm.com.  New Artist voting will close at 5 p.m. PT on April 3 (before the LIVE show starts) and Entertainer of the Year voting will close during the third hour of the LIVE broadcast. Don’t forget to tune in TONIGHT on GAC at 9 ET to see the 2011 ACM Top New Artist special, featuring nominees Eric Church and The Band Perry. You’ll see them accept their trophies for Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Group or Duo, respectively, as well as perform and talk about what’s on their mind as they vie for the overall ACM Top New Artist award, to be presented during the 46th Annual ACM Awards, April 3 at 8/7c on CBS. Click HERE for a sneak peek at our special! Continue Reading

ShareThis

The Academy of Country Music announced that starting today, April 1, anyone can vote for Entertainer of the Year and Top New Artist by logging on to www.voteACM.com. The winner will be announced on the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 8 p.m. Eastern (delayed PT) on CBS.

Nominees Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band vie for Entertainer of the Year with fan voting powered by the Ram Truck Brand. Additionally, for the first time, fans can vote for Top New Artist from among nominees Luke Bryan, Gloriana and Joey + Rory (who have already been named Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo, respectively). Fans can vote for Top New Artist through the start of the live broadcast and Entertainer of the Year into the third hour of the show. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Taylor Swift's December 2009 InStyle magazine cover. Photo courtesy of InStyle magazine.

New CMA Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift has another reason to celebrate — she’s the cover girl on the December issue of InStyle magazine. Fans of this year’s golden girl can pick up a copy of the 3-D cover this Friday, November 20, when it hits newsstands. How does a 3-D magazine cover work? In a press release, the magazine gives these instructions:

Hold the issue up to your webcam and watch Swift come to life in this fashion magazine first:  within seconds, a red bow flies off the page and unravels, while snow falls in 3-D, as a glittering Swift welcomes viewers with a holiday greeting and an inside look at her InStyle photo shoot.

Continue Reading

ShareThis

Taylor Swift wins Entertainer of the Year at “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards,” on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Photographer: John Russell / CMA

This is Taylor Swift‘s world and we’re all just living in it. Tonight at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards, Taylor took home awards for Video of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year AND Entertainer of the Year.

Backstage in the press room, Taylor told the media how she was going to celebrate.

“Tonight I’m just gonna dance around and freak out,” she said, “because I never imagined that the unattainable thing I always held in my imagination would happen to me at 19. I couldn’t be more grateful but I love a challenge, and right now the challenge is to find that next challenge.”

Also backstage, show co-host — and Male Vocalist of the Year winner – Brad Paisley commented on Taylor’s win. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Kenny Chesney performs at the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field in Downtown Nashville Sunday, June 14 during the 2009 CMA Music Festival. Photo courtesy of the Country Music Association.

Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift are making big news by quickly selling out their upcoming tours — but Kenny Chesney‘s still at the top of the list for now.

USA Today reported on the strongest tours in the country and found that Kenny is No. 1 in all genres.

“You know,” says Kenny of the honor, “to me, it’s about rocking the fans… and I never want to have a ticket price that keeps the people who buy my records or listen to my songs in their truck from coming out and partying with us. If I can make sure there are always seats people can afford – and even try to keep the best seats where they’re reasonable for what they are – then I feel like I can keep having the party of the summer when I go out. Again, to me, it’s about that moment and having fun with your buddies.  Continue Reading

ShareThis