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As if her upcoming wedding wasn’t already set to be stacked with enough country music royalty, Kelly Clarkson has added Blake Shelton to the roster — as her officiant.
Following her performance at Sunday night’s ACM Awards in Las Vegas, Clarkson revealed to Entertainment Tonight that Shelton will not only perform at her nuptials, he will conduct the ceremony as well. READ FULL STORY »
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The real winners were announced last night at the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. But here are a few more honors from the telecast you should feel free to weigh in on: READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
The real winners were announced last night at the 47th Academy of Country Music Awards. But here are a few more honors from the telecast that you should feel free to weigh in on:
Best hosts: They’re no Brad and Carrie, but Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire (or is it just Reba these days?) maintained a playful rapport and charming competitiveness throughout the telecast. During the opening bit, Blake nailed Taylor Swift’s trademark suprised face while joking about her upcoming perfume. “Oh my gosh! I can’t believe I smell this good!” he imitated as he put his hands to his cheeks. Reba roasted Blake a bit for his old mullet (never forget!), and in return, Blake offered a few barbs about her age — although she’s looking mighty fine at 57! Blake’s humor just ever so slightly delved into the mean territory (I could have done without the Randy Travis and Tim Tebow jokes), but he still garnered big laughs throughout the night. Why is it that country music award shows seem to be the only type that prove hosts can actually be funny? My guess is that they don’t take themselves so dang seriously! READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images Below, check out the winners of the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards:
Song of the Year: “Crazy Girl” by Eli Young Band
Album of the Year: Four the Record by Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum
Vocal Duo of the Year: Thompson Square
Video of the Year: “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith
Vocal Event of the Year: “Don’t You Wanna Stay” by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
Single Record of the Year: “Don’t You Wanna Stay” by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
New Artist of the Year: Scotty McCreery
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton
Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift
To see the entire list, including industry, radio, and instrumentalist awards, check out the complete winners list at the official ACM website.
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It’s probably too early in the day for tequila, but Kenny Chesney has some celebrating to do.
The nominees for the 47th annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced this morning, and the “You and Tequila” singer safely leads the pack with an impressive total of nine nominations, including the major categories of Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album, Single, and Song of the Year.
Not far behind is Jason Aldean and his respectable six nods, while Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, and Toby Keith also nabbed multiple slots on this year’s ballot.
While Chesney is no stranger to these shindigs (the twangy beach bum has won Entertainer of the Year four times before), the singer’s been mostly dormant in recent years. But thanks to his huge crossover hit (which got an assist from the equally durable Grace Potter), the 43-year-old artist is enjoying a late-career surge.
The show will be hosted by Blake Shelton and Reba McIntyre, and CBS will air it live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand on April 1.
Check out the full list of nominees below:
ABC touted its three-hour CMA Music Festival concert as “Country’s Night to Rock,” and because this special had better sound than other televised music award shows do combined, it actually did. Most everyone was there, from Reba McEntire, who sang “Turn On the Radio”; to Taylor Swift, who worked a sparkly gold fringed dress for “Sparks Fly”; to Jason Aldean, who brought Kelly Clarkson onstage for their duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” My favorite crowd reaction shot of the night was the guy rapping along with Aldean during “Dirt Road Anthem.” My favorite artist interview was Lady Antebellum, who revealed they sign a lot of “stinky cowboy boots” and that Dave Haywood sleeps in black crew socks. (“This interview is really awful for my rep, by the way,” he joked.)
It was admittedly tough to watch Sugarland’s performance in light of their stage collapse in Indiana over the weekend. ABC made sure viewers knew the performances of “Find the Beat Again” and “Stuck Like Glue” were recorded on June 10, 2011, but being reminded of how much joy that duo and their fans are capable of made your heart ache because you know they’re feeling the complete opposite now. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesReba McEntire, Jean Shepard, and Bobby Braddock will become the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Country Music Association announced today. McEntire (who’s pictured at right) will be inducted in the “Modern Era Artist” category; Shepard will join the “Veterans Era Artist” category; and Braddock will become the first inductee in the “Songwriter” category, which is awarded every third year in rotation with the “Recording and/or Touring Musician” and “Non-Performer” categories. With these additions, membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame, which began in 1961, rises to a total of 115 inductees.
Image Credit: Scott Garfield; Simon Webber; Mike RuizThis year’s CMA Awards are shaping up to be a must-watch. The Country Music Association has just confirmed the rumor that Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson will perform their duet “Don’t You Want to Stay” off of his new album, My Kinda Party, in stores tomorrow, during the live broadcast Nov. 10 on ABC. (Listen to the track below.) One thing this awards show does right is pack the three-hour ceremony with performances. Aldean and Clarkson are the latest additions to the all-star line-up that includes: both returning cohosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, and Reba McEntire, as well as Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, Sheryl Crow (with Lambert, in a tribute to Loretta Lynn’s 50 years in the business), and Gwyneth Paltrow, who’ll make her “live country music singing debut” performing the title song from her upcoming movie Country Song with Vince Gill.
You get all this, plus the usual thrills: Finding out which stars on the network are country music fans (Better With You‘s JoAnna Garcia and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition‘s Ty Pennington have been added to the list of presenters), hearing what comes out of presenter Kellie Pickler’s mouth, and (fingers crossed!), seeing a shot of presenter Tim McGraw’s butt. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Monty Brinton/CBSGiddyup! Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Sugarland and George Strait have been announced as performers at the 44th Annual CMA Awards, which will air live Nov. 10 on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Also throwing their hats in the air are previously announced performers Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum and Dierks Bentley. Look for a special performance by the Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson. Paisley and Taylor Swift are looking for repeat wins as Male and Female Vocalist of the Year honors.
Read more:
Miranda Lambert leads CMA nominations with 9
Why do the CMAs keep snubbing Carrie Underwood for Entertainer of the Year?
Image Credit: Francis Specker/CBS/LandovIt was another glamorous day at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mixers, where country music’s best and brightest gathered to rehearse for their performances on Sunday night’s Academy of Country Music Awards. (Recently added to the lineup as presenters: David Nail, Jake Owen, Joe Nichols, and Randy Houser!) As usual, your Aunt Whittlz was on the scene, diligently type-type-typing away except for when I was distracted by horribly mundane activities such as eating.
Read on for the almost unnecessarily minute-by-minute scoop on rehearsals from Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, and Carrie Underwood, plus interviews with Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire. Plus: Robin Leach!
12:17 p.m. Keith Urban’s adorable Aussie accent is filling the arena as I arrive. His band is on stage, noodling around with the lick from Lou Reed’s “Walk On the Wild Side” while Keith stands in the house, discussing a top-secret gimmick. I’ve been asked not to reveal the gimmick, which is fine by me. I like to be part of the solution. Thus, I can give you a snippet of Keith’s conversation, and nothing more: “There might be something cool in taking it and walking right up on stage with it,” he says. “Then I just have to figure out who’s gonna take it when I walk up to my mic.” As he brainstorms with staffers, Keith is wonderfully cheerful and good-natured.
12:18 p.m. He’s singing “I’m In.” This song is also very cheerful and good-natured. Keith, I do need a lover and a friend. Thank you for suggesting that. READ FULL STORY »
