Country music fans everywhere have the power to choose the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year as well as New Artist of the Year by casting their votes now on www.VoteACM.com. The winners will be announced live on the 47^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, to be broadcast from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 1, 8-11 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS. The Ram Truck brand and the Academy of Country Music announced today that Entertainer of the Year fan voting will be powered by Ram Trucks, for the third year in a row. This year, for the second time, the ACM Awards will feature the ACM Ram Red Carpet to welcome country’s biggest stars to the show.

Entertainer of the Year 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, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift are nominated.  Fans can also vote for the New Artist of the Year award, for which Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes and Scotty McCreery will compete.

Don’t forget to watch our special, the ACM New Artist of the Year Showcase, airing Wednesday, March 21 at 10/9 p.m. Central! Watch a sneak peek and see photos from the show >>  And be sure to catch us LIVE from the red carpet the night of the awards, Sunday, April 1 at 7/6c.

Fan voting for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year is open now at www.VoteACM.com.  New Artist of the Year voting will close at 8 p.m PT /5 p.m. PT on April 1 (before the LIVE show starts) and Entertainer of the Year voting will close during the third hour of the LIVE broadcast. See the full  list of ACM nominees here >> Continue Reading

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Nan Kelley, Casey James, Suzanne Alexander & Lee Brice on the set of Top 20 Country Countdown.

GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown welcomed both Lee Brice and Casey James this week to talk about their new music! Casey chatted with host Nan Kelley about his self-titled debut album, out March 20, while Lee gave Suzanne Alexander details about his new album, Hard 2 Love, out April 24. Nan also counted down this week’s Top 20 videos. Miss Friday night’s premiere? Check the schedulefor re-airs throughout the weekend!

It’s a week of debuts on the chart this week. Miranda Lambert debuts in the top spot with her new video, “Over You,” while Taylor Swift’s “Safe & Sound” featuring The Civil Wars enters the chart at No 8. Kip Moore makes his first-ever Top 20 appearance with his video, “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck,” coming in at No. 18. New videos from Thompson Square and Rascal Flatts also enter the countdown this week.

This Week’s Chart:

1. Miranda Lambert – “Over You”
2. Alan Jackson – “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore”
3. Lauren Alaina – “Georgia Peaches”
4. Lady Antebellum – “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”
5. Katie Armiger – “Scream”
6. Luke Bryan – “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
7. Taylor Swift – “Ours”
8. Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars – “Safe & Sound”
9. Keith Urban – “You Gonna Fly”
10. Keith Urban – “For You” Continue Reading

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Steel Magnolia photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

The saying “nothing’s free” does not apply in the days leading up to the ACM Awards. The ACM Experience is the first-ever, free, three-day open-to-the public country music lifestyle event for fans during The Week Vegas Goes Country®.  Enthusiasts will “shop country, taste country, ride country, and hear country” throughout the weekend all leading up to the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Talent appearances at The ACM Experience are just part of the fun, that includes ACM BBQ Throwdown, ACM EXPO, Ram Ride and Drive and more!  Visit www.ACMcountry.com to learn more.

The ACM Experience schedule:

WHO:                    Friday, March 30, 2012 10am – 6pm                          

12:30pm               Thomas Rhett                                                     Country Thunder Stage    

1:00pm                 Greg Bates                                                          ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage

1:30pm                  Dance Y’all Showcase                                       Country Thunder Stage

2:00pm                 Edens Edge                                                        Country Thunder Stage

3:00pm                 Ira Dean                                                              ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage

3:30pm                  Dance Y’all Showcase                                       Country Thunder Stage

4:30 pm                 PBR & KWNR Battle of the Bands Finalist        Country Thunder Stage

5:00pm                 Andy Gibson                                                       ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage

5:30pm                 Kip Moore                                                           Country Thunder Stage

Saturday, March 31, 2012 10am – 9pm                                                    

11:00am               Maggie Rose                                                       ACM Expo Acoustic Stage

11:30am               Sonia Leigh                                                         Country Thunder Stage    

12:00pm               Darren Warren                                                    ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage

12:30pm               Dance Y’all Showcase                                        Country Thunder Stage

1:00pm                 Mallary Hope                                                       ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage

1:30pm                 Steel Magnolia                                                    Country Thunder Stage                    

2:30pm                  PBR & KWNR Battle of the Bands Finalist        Country Thunder Stage

3:00pm                  Dance Y’all Showcase                                       Country Thunder Stage

3:30pm                 The Dirt Drifters                                                  Country Thunder Stage    

5:30pm                 Gloriana                                                              Country Thunder Stage    

Sunday, April 1, 2012 10am – 4pm                                                             

11:00am               Canaan Smith                                                      Country Thunder Stage

11:30am               Morgan Frazier                                                    ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage              

12:00pm               Blackberry Smoke                                               Country Thunder Stage    

12:30pm               Dance Y’all Showcase                                         Country Thunder Stage

1:00pm                 Chris Janson                                                       ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage

1:30pm                 Levi Lowrey                                                          ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage

1:30pm                  Dance Y’all Showcase                                        Country Thunder Stage

2:00pm                 David St. Romain                                                 ACM EXPO Acoustic Stage

2:30pm                 LoCash Cowboys                                                 Country Thunder Stage

3:30 pm                 PBR & KWNR Battle of the Bands Finalist          Country Thunder Stage Continue Reading

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Photo by Alana Goldmann, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Luke Bryan brought Spring Break to this week’s Top 20 Country Countdown. He dropped by to chat with Suzanne Alexander host about his new EP, Spring Break 4… Suntan City as well as being on tour with Jason Aldean. Plus, host Nan Kelley counted town the Top 20 videos of the week, chosen by you. Miss Friday night’s premiere? Check the schedule for re-airs throughout the weekend!

On the charts this week, Alan Jackson’s “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore” takes over the top spot while videos from Lauren Alaina, Katie Armiger, Taylor Swift and Luke Bryan round out the Top 5. Keith Urban checks in with two videos on the countdown. His “You Gonna Fly” is in the No. 6 slot while his latest, “For You,” debuts at No. 9.

This Week’s Chart:

1. Alan Jackson – “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore”
2. Lauren Alaina – “Georgia Peaches”
3. Katie Armiger – “Scream”
4. Taylor Swift – “Ours”
5. Luke Bryan – “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
6. Keith Urban – “You Gonna Fly”
7. Lady Antebellum – “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”
8. Chris Young – “You”
9. Keith Urban – “For You”
10. Jake Owen – “Alone With You” Continue Reading

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GAC hosts Suzanne Alexander and Nan Kelley catch up with Trace Adkins at the 2012 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. Photo credit GAC staff.

This week’s Top 20 Country Countdown headed down to Texas where host Nan Kelley pulled on her boots and spurs to talk with the men of GAC’s Xtreme Bulls series. Trace Adkins and Dierks Bentley even took time out from their duties as performers to chat with Nan! If you missed the Friday night premiere, check the schedule for re-airs throughout the weekend to see if your favorite videos made the countdown!

On the chart this week, Scotty McCreery scores his twelfth week at No. 1 while the rest of the Top 5 remains unchanged as well. Lady Antebellum’s latest, “Dancin’ Away With My Heart,” debuts at No. 11. New videos from Miley Cyrus and Craig Morgan also make their countdown debuts  this week. Continue Reading

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Nan Kelley & Lauren Alaina photo by Julee Cobb.

Lauren Alaina is the special guest on this week’s Top 20 Country Countdown! Lauren and host Nan Kelley chatted about Lauren’s latest video, “Georgia Peaches,” and what it’s like being on tour with Jason Aldean. If you missed the Friday night premiere, check the schedulefor re-airs throughout the weekend to see if your favorite videos made the countdown!

On the chart this week,  Scotty McCreery remains firm at No. 1 while Lauren’s “Georgia Peaches” spends another week at No. 2. Alan Jackson, Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift round out the Top 5. Neal McCoy’s new video, “A-OK” makes its countdown debt in the No. 11 spot this week.

This Week’s Chart:

1. Scotty McCreery – “The Trouble With Girls”
2. Lauren Alaina – “Georgia Peaches”
3. Alan Jackson – “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore”
4. Luke Bryan – “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
5. Taylor Swift – “Ours”
6. Keith Urban – “You Gonna Fly”
7. Chris Young – “You”
8. Katie Armiger – “Scream”
9. Casey James – “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night”
10. Miranda Lambert – “Baggage Claim” Continue Reading

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Top 20 Country Countdown.

Your votes choose the videos you see on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown and host Nan Kelley counts them down every week! If you missed the Friday night premiere, check the schedule for re-airs throughout the weekend to see if your favorite videos made the countdown!

On the charts this week, Scotty McCreery holds on to No. 1 for yet another week with “The Trouble With Girls.” Lauren Alaina’s “Georgia Peaches” debuts on the countdown all the way at No. 2 and the latest videos from Gloriana and Dierks Bentley also make the countdown for the first time this week.

This Week’s Chart:

1. Scotty McCreery – “The Trouble With Girls”
2. Lauren Alaina – “Georgia Peaches”
3. Alan Jackson – “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore”
4. Kellie Pickler – “Tough”
5. Luke Bryan – “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
6. Taylor Swift – “Ours”
7. Chris Young – “You”
8. Keith Urban – “You Gonna Fly”
9. Katie Armiger – “Scream”
10. Casey James – “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night” Continue Reading

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Rodney Atkins photo courtesy of Curb Records.

Rodney Atkins will headline the post-race concert following the 13^th Annual St. Jude Country Music Marathon and ½ Marathon in Nashville on April 28. The music-themed road race attracts more than 30,000 runners and walkers and 6,000 junior races through ING KiDS ROCK Nashville and puts them on a course that is lined by many of Nashville’s best live bands. Gloriana will also perform.

“For all these people to come out and push themselves to this great of a length for such a good cause is exciting and definitely something to celebrate,” Rodney said. “It will be a fun night and I’m looking forward to being a part of it all.”

“The St. Jude Country Music Marathon & ½ Marathon presented by Nissan continues as a marquee event in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series,” Adam Zocks, the event’s vice president and general manager, said. “We are thrilled that Rodney Atkins and Gloriana will perform at this year’s post race concert and are proud that so many participants return year after year to experience the event and everything Nashville has to offer.”

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a charity partner of the Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon. The hospital is celebrating its 50th anniversary of the life-saving mission of finding cures and saving the lives of children. Continue Reading

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Luke Bryan photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville; Blake Shelton photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton topped the list of dance club hits in 2011, according to the Marco Club Connection’s 8^thannual ranking of Country dance favorites.

Every December, the Nashville-based company surveys a panel of nearly 250 club owners, DJs and dance instructors from across the country to compile its rankings. Overall votes by the panel determine each song’s placement on the list.

“The added emphasis on dance in the music videos for this year’s top club hits was hugely popular with club DJs and choreographers,” says Club Connection Manager of Venue Marketing, Bobbe Morhiser.  “By featuring dancers and dance clubs in the videos, these records leave a lasting connection with fans that dancing and Country music are a natural match.”

The 2011 Marco Club Connection Top Ten Country Dance Club Hits are:

1. Luke Bryan – “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”  

2. Blake Shelton – “Footloose” 

3. Big & Rich – “Fake ID”

4. Blake Shelton – “Honey Bee”

5. Gloriana – “Wanna Take You Home” Continue Reading

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Blake Shelton photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Each year GAC asks fans to help us choose the best of the best country music videos released during the prior 12 months for our year end Top 50 Videos of the Year countdown. Here are the voting results for 2011 based on videos released and added to the GAC playlist from Nov. 1, 2010 to Oct. 31, 2011.

1. Blake Shelton — “God Gave Me You”
2. Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson — “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
3. Keith Urban — “Without You”
4. Jason Aldean — “Dirt Road Anthem”
5. Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood — “Remind Me”
6. Blake Shelton — “Honey Bee”
7. Lady Antebellum — “Just A Kiss”
8. Alan Jackson — “Long Way To Go”
9. Scotty McCreery — “I Love You This Big”
10. Trace Adkins — “Just Fishin’” Continue Reading

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