Dierks Bentley photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville; Brad Paisley photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.
The Academy of Country Music announced today that Dierks Bentleyand Brad Paisleyare scheduled to perform as part of the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition,Lionel Richieand Taylor Swiftare scheduled as presenters.The ceremony, which honors country music’s top talent as well as the industry’s hottest emerging artists, is produced for television by dick clark productions and 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.
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 10: Train singer Pat Monahan (L) and singer Martina McBride perform during the opening night of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for The Smith Center)
The Academy of Country Music announced today that Martina McBride, along with Train frontman Pat Monahan, is scheduled to perform her new single “Marry Me” on the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. To celebrate the message of the song, Martina and Pat will perform the duet during a very special moment in the show when a couple will get married live onstage. The show, which honors country music’s top talent as well as the industry’s hottest emerging artists, is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8/7c live ET/delayed PT on CBS. At 7/6c, GAC will be bringing you all the stars LIVE as they arrive on the red carpet.
For the first time in ACM Awards history –and perhaps any awards history– a live wedding ceremony will take place onstage during Martina and Pat’s duet of “Marry Me,” Martina’s current single from her latest album, Eleven. The song was penned by Grammy Award-winning artist Monahan and originally released in 2010 as the third single from Train’s chart-topping fifth studio album, Save Me, San Francisco.
Martina personally selected the lucky recipients of the onstage nuptials. Couple Christina Davidson and Frank Tucci thought they would never find love again. In July of 2009, Frank lost his wife, Danielle to thyroid cancer and in that same year, Christina lost her husband, Paul, in a tragic drowning accident. As a way to deal with the grief of losing her husband and raising her two sons Stephen and Paul on her own, Christina started a support group for young widows and widowers in Washington Township, N.J., where she met Frank. Slowly their friendship blossomed into love as they bonded over their shared views about the challenges of single parenthood and the struggles to keep the memories of their spouses alive. Their wedding will mark a new chapter in their lives, an intimate moment which they will graciously share onstage. The bride will be wearing an Oleg Cassini gown as she recites her vows. Fans can also follow Christina and Frank along their journey to the chapel at www.ACMwedding.com.
Martina and Pat join previously announced performers Continue Reading
Carrie Underwood photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.
The Academy of Country Music announced today that Sara Evans, Carrie Underwoodand Keith Urbanare scheduled to perform as part of the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition,2 Broke Girls’ Beth Behrs and Entertainment Tonight’s Nancy O’Dell are scheduled as presenters.The ceremony, which honors country music’s top talent as well as the industry’s hottest emerging artists, is produced for television by dick clark productions and will 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.
Six years after her last studio album, ACM Award winning artist Sara Evans is back in a big way. She is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, an award she won in 2005. The lead single from her latest album, “A Little Bit Stronger, ” quickly became one of the most successful singles in Evans’ career. The song was a multi-week No. 1 single, making Evans the only female artist in 2011 to hold the No. 1 position for two consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart as well as Country Aircheck. “A Little Bit Stronger” was written by Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.
Carrie Underwood is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, marking her seventh consecutive nomination in this category – which she has won three times. She is also nominated this year for Vocal Event of the Year for “Remind Me,” her duet with Brad Paisley. Having won a total of 10 ACM Awards, Underwood is also a two-time Entertainer of the Year. In 2010, she was honored with the ACM Triple Crown, an award presented to an elite group of country music artists who boast wins for New Artist, Male/Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year.
Keith Urban is a seven-time ACM Award winner including two wins for Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year as both artist and producer for Be Here and Vocal Event of the Year for “Start A Band,” his duet with Brad Paisley. In 2010, Urban was honored with the Academy’s prestigious Jim Reeves International Award, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music worldwide. Continue Reading
Luke Bryan, Sara Evans,Tim McGraw and Jennifer Nettles have been added to the all-star list of artists scheduled to perform at the ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert taping on Monday, April 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The special will air on CBS on April 13th.
ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert is a special event showcasing some of Lionel Richie’s biggest hits performed by country stars as well as the the country music collaborations found on his upcoming album, Tuskegee, out March 26th. Artists already announced to perform include Jason Aldean, The Band Perry,Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, andRascal Flatts.Lionel will perform “My Love” withKenny Chesney, “Sail On” with Tim McGraw and “Lady” withKenny Rogersduring the special.
Just like we always like to do, GAC asked fans to help decide which videos should make one of our special countdowns! And once again, you came through in a big way. Thanks to everyone who voted for GAC’s Top 50 Videos of the 2000s earlier this year. And, a huge thanks to our amazing host, Neal McCoy, for making sure the trip through the countdown was a good time for all! Congratulations to Carrie Underwood who topped the countdown with her smash hit video “Before He Cheats.” You can check out the complete list below and be sure to leave us a comment and tells what you think! Continue Reading
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Singer Whitney Houston (L) and Bobbi Kristina Brown arrives at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Whitney Houston wasn’t a country artist, but she inspired and touched the lives of many country stars all the same. As news of her death on Saturday in Beverly Hills spread, artists took to Twitter and Facebook to express their sympathy and offer their condolences. Dolly Parton had the privilege of having Whitney record her song, “I Will Always Love You,” for The Bodyguardsoundtrack in 1992. The song went on to become one of Whitney’s signature hits.
“Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston,” Dolly said in a statement on her website. “I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song, and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.’”
As her co-star in The Bodyguard, Kevin Costner, who performs with his band Modern West, urged Whitney to record “I Will Always Love You.” Watch this video from 2009 as Kevin talks about starring with Whitney in the movie and urging her to record a ‘little country song’ her camp wasn’t so sure about.
LeAnn Rimes took the news of Whitney’s death hard, tweeting “Whitney Houston was the first cd I ever bought. She had a God given gift. Hopefully, she’s singing with angels now.” Later, as LeAnn was preparing to go onstage, she tweeted again, sharing how Whitney inspired her:
“I can’t stop crying. I have a show to do soon. Wow, I learned how to do what I do because of 3 great women, one being Whitney. She was always so kind to me. This is not gonna be an easy show for sure. I’m doing what she taught me to do by listening to her records over & over as a little girl. Her death is very surreal.”
Many more country stars tweeted their shock, grief and condolences:
Martina McBride- @martinamcbride: So sad about Whitney. She was one of my singing idols. Prayers going up for her family, especially her daughter.
Jewel- @jeweljk: What a shame, not just because a great voice is silent, but a great LIFE is ended way too early. My thoughts are with her family
Sugarland – @Sugarlandmusic: A beautiful voice and a talent beyond compare. You will be missed. –K
Luke Bryan – @LukeBryanOnline: On the bus listening to Whitney. Very heartbreaking to lose someone that defined my generation. Voice of an angel. A very sad day.
Jason Aldean – @Jason_Aldean: Very sad to hear about the death of Whitney Houston…. What an amazing talent she was.
Host Nan Kelley visits with Alison Krauss and Union Station on the set of Top 20 Country Countdown. Photo by Julee Cobb.
Top 20 Country Countdown welcomed Alison Krauss & Union Station this week. They sat down with host Nan Kelley to talk about recording their first project together in seven years, Paper Airplane, and to promote their new single, “My Love Follows You Where You Go.” If you missed the Friday night premiere, check the schedule for re-airs throughout the weekend.
On the chart this week, Scotty McCreery maintains his stronghold at No. 1 with “The Trouble With Girls” while Kellie Pickler , Taylor Swift, and Luke Bryan shuffle spots, leaving Alan Jackson to take the final spot in the Top 5 with his latest video. Justin Moore’s “Bait A Hook” returns to the countdown this week at No. 18, while Ronnie Dunn’s latest, “Let The Cowboy Rock,” makes its countdown debut at No. 19.
Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.
Rascal Flatts will launch a brand new tour this summer and they’re taking several fellow country bands out on the road with them. The American Band Tour will feature Little Big Town, Eli Young Band andEdens Edgeas special guests. The new tour will kick off June 15 in Hartford, Connecticut.
“We are always looking for new ways to re-energize our live shows,” Jay DeMarcus said. “We thought bringing out these bands, whom are among some of our favorite vocal groups, would make a great night of entertainment!” Continue Reading
The JaneDear girls photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s latest spotlight exhibit will be in support of the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women. The Exhibit, Something in Red, will feature red ensembles from several country stars including Sara Evans, Naomi Judd, and Lorrie Morgan. The exhibit opens on February 3, National Wear Red Day, and runs through April 2012.
The red dress symbolizes the fight against heart disease in women. Several country artists have parented with the American Heart Association and the museum to raise awareness for the disease, which is the number one killer in women.
Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton pose with awards at the 45th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 9, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Miranda Lambertand Blake Shelton will perform “America the Beautiful” together prior to the kickoff of the Super Bowl in Indianapolis on February 5, reports the Associated Press (via Yahoo). One of the most-watched events of the year, Kelly Clarkson is slated to perform the National Anthem. The Super Bowl will air live on NBC.
Blake and Miranda aren’t the only country artists who will be in Indianapolis for Super Bowl events, however. Darius Rucker and Dierks Bentley will perform at concerts in Super Bowl Village in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, while Sara Evans will perform at the Taste of the NFL’s 21st Annual Party With a Purpose on February 4. Madonna has been announced as the Super Bowl’s halftime performer. Continue Reading
