Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban will return to the stage for the first time since undergoing successful vocal cord surgery late last year with a performance on the Grand Ole Opry February 3. Keith’s performance will take place as the Opry wraps its winter run at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The Opry returns to the Grand Ole Opry House the next day.

Other artists scheduled to appear on the Opry with Keith are Charley Pride and the Oak Ridge Boys, with more artists to be added. Keith is also scheduled to perform on the Opry on March 9 at the Opry House. Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Del McCoury, Craig Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner and more will appear on the Opry stage in coming weeks. 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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Josh Turner photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Josh Turner will release his latest single, “Time Is Love,” to radio on January 9. Written by Tom Shapiro, Tony Martin and Mark Nesler, the song is the lead single from Josh’s yet-to-be-titled fifth studio album for MCA Nashville. “Time Is Love” is now available for download on iTunes.

“This song grabbed me from the first listen because it has such an infectious melody and lyrically it really tells a message that I have been wanting to say for a long time,” Josh said. “It’s not about quality time but quantity time and taking the time to get to know the person better and develop a relationship with that person.” Continue Reading

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Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Billboard.com has released their list of the Top Country Artists of 2011. Artists are ranked based on album sales, song downloads and airplay, touring revenue, Social 50 chart action, ringtone sales and streaming data provided by Nielsen BDS. Congratulations to Taylor Swift for being named the Top Country Artist of 2011! What do you think of this ranking? Who’d top YOUR Top 50 list? Leave us a comment below!

1. Taylor Swift
2. Jason Aldean
3. Lady Antebellum
4. Zac Brown Band
5. Blake Shelton
6. The Band Perry
7. Rascal Flatts
8. Kenny Chesney
9. Brad Paisley
10. Luke Bryan
11. Keith Urban
12. Miranda Lambert
13. Sugarland
14. Eric Church
15. Scotty McCreery
16. Toby Keith
17. Thompson Square
18. Chris Young
19. Billy Currington
20. Tim McGraw Continue Reading

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GAC’s Nan Kelley on the red carpet with Trace Adkins at the 2011 American Country Awards. Photo by Cheryl Ecton.

GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown was in Las Vegas on Monday for the American Country Awards and caught up with several country stars both on the red carpet and backstage. Host Nan Kelley had a chance to chat with the show’s co-host, Trace Adkins, as well as The Band Perry, Chris Young, Josh Turner, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and more, so tune in tonight at 8/7 CT to catch all the action! Nan will also count down the Top 20 videos, chosen by you.

Complete coverage of the American Country Awards! >>

GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown is chosen by you, the viewers, so head over to our voting page and cast your votes daily for your favorite videos! Continue Reading

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 05: Singer Jason Aldean poses in the press room with the awards for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Singer of the Year: Male, Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration, Touring Artist of the Year and Music Video: Group or Collaboration at the American Country Awards 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 5, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

If you missed last night’s second annual American Country Awards, don’t worry! GAC will re-air it Saturday, December 17, 10 p.m. Eastern. The two-hour music spectacular aired live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last night and allowed fans to vote for their favorite artists in many diverse categories.

Co-hosted by Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, the show includes performances by Scotty McCreery, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Alabama, Chris Young, The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band, Pistol Annies and others.  The special will also include appearances by Josh Turner, Lauren Alaina, Miranda Lambert, Jordin Sparks, The Big Show, the JaneDear girls, Bill Engvall and Rodney Carrington.  The Great American Country Video of the Year Award was presented by GAC’s Storme Warren, Hunter Hayes and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Larry Mahan to Blake Shelton for his “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” music video.  Nominees in that category were determined by airplay on GAC.

“Giving fans a chance to vote for their favorite country artists has been a cornerstone of GAC programming,” said GAC VP/Programming, Suzanne Gordon.  “By also doing so, the American Country Awards honor both the fans and their favorite performers.”

Check out our complete ACA section for winners, photos & more >>

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

Chris Young has been added to the lineup of performers at the American Country Awards. Chris will perform his No. 1 hit “Voices” during the show. “Voices” is nominated in two categories — Single of the Year and Single of the Year–Male. He is also up for Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist. Co-hosted by Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, the ACAs will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas tonight, December 5, at 8/7 CT on FOX.

Check Out Our Complete Coverage of the 2011 American Country Awards >>

Other artists scheduled to perform during the show include Alabama, Scotty McCreery, Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band and The Band Perry. In addition to performing, Alabama will receive the Greatest Hits Award during the show which is presented to a country music act that had produced an extensive catalogues of No. 1 hits.

Appearances by Lauren Alaina, Josh Turner, Miranda Lambert, Jordin Sparks, The Big Show, the JaneDear girls, Bill Engvall, Larry Mahan, Rodney Carrington and the men of Pawn Stars, Richard Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin Russell, are also scheduled.

The ACAs are country music’s only entirely fan-voted awards show. Voting in all categories wrapped on November 11 except for Artist of Year, which wrapped on December 2. Tune in tonight to see if your picks take home the trophy!

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Topy Keith photo courtesy of Wortman Works Media & Marketing.

Toby Keith  will perform “Red Solo Cup” for the first time on broadcast TV during the American Country Awards. The song was just officially released as Toby’s second single from his new album, Clancy’s Tavern, but is already a web video sensation. It will also be featured in the December 6 episode of FOX’s Glee. The ACAs, co-hosted by Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Monday, December 5 at 8/7 CT on FOX.

Check Out Our Complete Coverage of the 2011 American Country Awards >>

Other artists scheduled to perform at the ACAs include Alabama, Scotty McCreery, Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band and The Band Perry. Appearances by Lauren Alaina, Josh Turner, Miranda Lambert, Jordin Sparks, The Big Show, the JaneDear girls, Bill Engvall, Larry Mahan, Rodney Carrington and the men of Pawn Stars, Richard Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin Russell, are also scheduled. Continue Reading

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Alabama photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Legendary country music group Alabama has been tapped to receive the Greatest Hits Award at the American Country Awards, airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Monday, Dec. 5, 8-10 p.m. ET (PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The veteran band, which gave its farewell tour in 2003, also will perform during the broadcast. Additionally, American Idol winner Scotty McCreery has been added to the list of performers for the two-hour primetime special.

The American Country Awards Greatest Hits Award is presented to a country music act that has produced an extensive catalogue of No. 1 hits throughout its career. As one of country music’s classic groups, Alabama has enjoyed more than 30 years of unprecedented success in the music industry. Consisting of Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook, the group has released 21 Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum albums, and 43 No. 1 singles. Other accolades include eight country music “Entertainer of the Year” honors, two Grammys, two People’s Choice Awards and their very own star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame.”

Alabama first signed with industry giant RCA back in 1980. The group immediately began taking the country genre in new directions, reaching out to an incredibly diverse fan base, many of whom had never listened to country music. The band’s upbringing on country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, rock-n-roll and southern rock enabled them to perform everything from Acuff to ZZ Top. Their career sales have topped 73 million records, ranking them as one of the 10 biggest-selling bands in the annals of popular music – ahead of such rock legends as Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Queen, Pink Floyd and The Who. Additionally, Alabama has more No. 1 records than any band in country music history and has sold more concert tickets than any other country group.

The second annual American Country Awards, hosted by Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, is the only country music awards show that gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories but also in previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring, encompassing the entire spectrum of country music and bestowing honors that no other awards show has.

Co-hosts Trace and Kristin, along with Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band and The Band Perry are set to perform. The special will also include appearances by Josh Turner, Jordin Sparks, The Big Show, the JaneDear girls, Bill Engvall, Larry Mahan and Rodney Carrington. Previously announced participants include Lauren Alaina, Rachel Bilson, Miranda Lambert, Scotty McCreery and the men of Pawn Stars (Richard Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin Russell).

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Brad Paisley photo by Jim Shea, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Brad Paisley was named Songwriter/Artist of the Year and Ben Hayslip was honored as Songwriter of the Year at ASCAP’s 49th Annual Country Music Awards held November 6 in Nashville. Other big winners of the night were “The House That Built Me,” written by Allen Shamblin, for Country Song of the Year and Sea Gayle Music as Publisher of the Year. The ASCAP Awards honored the writers of country music’s most performed songs from April 2010 to March 2011 as well as Don Williams and The Civil Wars, who both received special ASCAP awards.

A total of 36 songs were honored as the most played on country radio and the writers of the Top 5 most performed songs gave performances throughout the show. Those performances included “All Over Me,” by Ben Hayslip and Josh Turner, “Gimmie That Girl,” by Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson, “The House That Built Me,” by Allen Shamblin, “The Man I Want To Be,” by Brett James, Tim Nichols and Chris Young and “Roll With It,” by Tony Lane and Johnny Park. Dierks Bentley, last  year’s ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year, opened the show with a performance of his current single, “Home.”

The night also included a special musical tribute to Don Williams.  Keith Urban and Little Big Town paired for “We’ve Got a Good Fire Goin,’” while Lee Ann Womack performed “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good.” Don surprised the audience with a performance as well before being honored with ASCAP’s Golden Note Award, which is presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Continue Reading

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