- The show opened up with a bang. The first performance was by Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, John Fogerty and Charlie Daniels!!! Check it out.
- Reba told some awful jokes before Cher who introduced Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins to perform “Hillbilly Bone”.
- Billy Currington performs “That’s How Country Boys Roll”
-Kenny Chesney performs “Ain’t Back Yet”
- Faith Hill presents Song of the Year Lady Antebellum wins ACM Award for Song of the Year for “Need You Now” This will definitely not be the last time they make it on stage tonight. Check out the video of Hill present and Lady A accepting!!!
- Laura Bell Bundy performs “Giddy On Up”. Lots of dancers and very similar to the popular video. It will be interesting to see how she is embraced by country music.
- Toby Keith performs a tribute to Wayman Tisdale with “Cryin’ for Me”. Great song. Not used to seeing Toby at award shows though.
- Zac Brown Band checks in from their USO Tour. In the commercial you saw that you can get a free ZBB CD if you write a letter to a serviceman or woman overseas. Pretty cool eh.
- Joe Nichols presents Single Record of the Year Award Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” wins again. Boy, its easy to find Lady A video clips tonight. Where are the rest of them???
- L.L. Cool J introduces Taylor Swift’s performance of “Change”. Taylor is accompanied by a large choir from San Diego. - Top New Artist segment of the program
- Gloriana perform “Wild at Heart” on the smaller stage surrounded by fans.
- Luke Bryan all by himself on the big stage singing his #1 hit “Do I”. Love this song. Way too short.
- Joey and Rory performing “Cheater, Cheater”. They are likable. I think they do deserve more play on the radio. They have a new CD coming out in June. - The Top New Artist is Luke Bryan!!!! Good for Luke. He is pumped and deserves it.
- Lady Antebellum continue their huge night with a performance of their current #1 hit, “American Honey”. They look great and are on top of the world right now!!!
- Rascal Flatts perform “Unstoppable”. CSI and the Olympics had their time with this song now it’s only for country music fans. Great song.
- the lovely Kristen Bell presents “Album of the Year” goes to Miranda Lambert’s “Revolution”. White Liar is a great song and Miranda really deserves this despite really tough competition. Miranda says that her music is the only thing she lives for….did she forget Blake…hmmm. Then the first ACM blooper of the night as they cut off Miranda’s producer in an awkward moment.
- Another stop at the USO tour of Zac Brown Band before Jason Aldean’s performance of his current single, “Crazy Town”. Once again, how did Jason Aldean miss getting nominations at this show??? I guess he will have to settle for sold out arena show right now.
- Miranda Lambert performs “The House that Built Me”. Lambert is trying to rival the big night that Lady A is having. She might do it too!!! I do like this dress better than the orange carpet dress. Where is the pink guitar??
- LeAnn Rimes presents the Home Depot Humanitarian Award to Montgomery Gentry. Great guys. Make sure you catch the GAC special on them when it is replayed about how they got together and their road the top. It is a great story…the stuff songs are made out of. A great moment seeing Eddie Montgomery in tears as he says how great our country is.
- Dierks Bentley and Jack Ingram perform “Barbie Doll”. Why are there old ladies on stage with them. A little weird for me.
- Carrie Underwood performs “Temporary Home”. Beautiful floral gown. She is unbelievable. This song really shows off her ability to tell a story. – Reba presented Carrie with a “Triple Crown” award. The Triple Crown is winning “Entertainer of the Year”, “Top New Artist” and “Top Female Vocalist”…I think….even though Reba messed up saying it!!!
- Top Vocal Group ACM Award goes to Lady Antebellum I really thought the Randy Rogers Band had a chance there. The night of Lady A keep going.
- Tim McGraw performs “Still” with the Dancehall Doctors behind him. Everyone is dressed in black.
- Brad Paisley takes to the stage with his current single “Water”. Where are the hot tubs?? Great violin and guitar solos!!! Ahh yes, there is the water. Looks nice and hot!!!
- Little Mama is drooling for Matthew McConaughey who just gave a pair of boots to Carrie Underwood. Remember the last time the two of them were at an awards show??? I believe Carrie put her foot in her mouth. McConaughey presents Top Male Vocalist to Brad Paisley who is still all wet and tries to give McConaughey a hug!!! Paisley’s wife and McConaughey co-starred on “We Are Marshall” a few years ago.
- Reba is tearing up introducing Brooks and Dunn’s last ACM performance….the winning song was “My Maria”. Tremendous song. A great way to go out. But Ronnie’s microphone doesn’t kick in much during the first verse. It is amazing to watch all the other stars singing along to “My Maria”.
- Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood present the Top Vocal Duo award to Brooks and Dunn. Fitting end to an amazing 20 year run. Can’t wait to see the “Last Rodeo Tour” this summer.
- Reba performs “I Keep On Loving You”. Great pictures of country couples in the background. Probably Reba’s best dress of the night too. -Top Female Vocalist goes Miranda Lambert. She is shocked saying, “You’ve go to be kidding me”. Kinds of a surprise but it looks like Miranda’s award show.
- Keith Urban performs “I’m In”. Great song. Had a camera following him around stage that gave a great look at the crowd a few times. Keith doesn’t play his current single, “Til Summer Comes Around” but plugs a new song that will fly up the charts after that performance. Very smart move. - Entertainer of the Year goes to Carrie Underwood. Hugs all around as Carrie makes her way on stage. What a year it has been. Huge tour, engagement, EOTY. WOW.
-Darius Rucker closes down the 2010 ACM Awards with “Forever Road”. Darius hit the country music scene by storm the last two years. I am so excited that he is in the mix and I think he will continue to come out with great songs and albums for years to come. What a great country voice.
An amazing showcase for country music. No one can deny the strength of country music right now. I am sure there were some new converts tonight to the greatest genre in the world. Goodnight and God Bless.
Here are some rehearsals and interviews from Las Vegas and the ACM Awards. Everyone is excited for tomorrow night and we will be here to post videos, pictures, and winners all night long. There is still time to go and vote for Top New Artist and Entertainer of the Year at VoteACM.com.
I think the ACM Awards are going to be 6 hours long this year. They can not possibly cram any more performers into one awards show. Today, the Academy of Country Music unveiled a few more performers to add to the list. The new additions are Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts and Miranda Lambert.
Toby Keith will also be on hand to perform “Cryin’ For Me” with sax player Dave Koz. Dierks Bentley and Jack Ingram will be playing together and are expected to sing “Barbie Doll”, their collaboration from Ingram’s latest album. Also added to the lineup is John Fogerty who launched a country album in 2009. Performers who were previously announced for the April 18 show include Laura Bell Bundy, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins, Lady Antebellum and Reba McEntire, set to host for the 12th time in her career.
The ACMs are getting close. Sunday, April 18th at 8 pm on CBS is the place to be for this tremendous event. Be sure to set your DVR to catch all the great performances.
The Early ACM Winners were announced today by the Academy. Notable winners were Keith Urban and the movie, “Crazy Heart”. Keith Urban won the Jim Reeves International Award. This award is presented to the individual for their outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world. The Academy says of Urban, “He continues to be a global music sensation, sharing his passion for country music around the world as one of the hottest touring acts in music. Urban’s recent world tours have taken his show to six countries on three different continents where he has played to packed houses.” Past winners of the Reeves Award include Garth Brooks, Dick Clark, Merv Griffin, Buck Owens and Dolly Parton.
The box-office hit, “Crazy Horse”, starring Jeff Bridges, won the Tex Ritter Award. This award is given to a movie that received major exposure during the last year and featured or utilized country music. The original song “The Weary Kind,” performed and written by country singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham, won both the Golden Globe and the Oscar in 2010. Past recipients of the Ritter Award include, “Beer For My Horses”, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, “Walk the Line” and “O’Brother, Where Art Thou”.
Gloriana is giving fans an exclusive look at life on the road between now and the ACM Awards on April 18th. People.com began weekly web video series today highlighting the groups travels with country superstar Taylor Swift. Gloriana is up for the fan voted “Top New Artist of the Year Award” after winning the “Top New Vocal Group Award” earlier this month. ACM Fan Voting begins on April 1st and ends the night of the award show.
Be sure to watch the GAC Special “ACM Top New Artists” which airs for the first time on April 1st at 10 pm. Fans will see special performances from all three Top New Artist contenders and Trace Adkins will host and give Gloriana their trophy for Top New Vocal Group. Follow the link to People.com to see Gloriana’s first behind the scenes video installment. Check out audio of Gloriana’s newest single “The World is Ours Tonight” which was featured by NBC during the Olympics.
People.com has an article announcing that Laura Bell Bundy will be performing at the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18th on CBS. This will mark the first time Bundy has performed “Giddy On Up” in front of a national audience. Bundy tells people that she is ready to make the performance exciting for viewers. “We’ll be in Vegas so I want to do a little Cirque du Bundy – some tightrope walking, light myself on fire, real live horses.” The dance from the hit video has been streamed over a million times and Bundy says that fans should expect to see similar choreography at the ACMs.
The Legally Blonde Broadway star looks forward to performing in front of her peers. “It’s the ultimate,” she says. “It’s not even being on television in front of millions of viewers – it’s more like all of your peers are there and you’re finally part of this community.” The performance should give a sales boost to her debut country album “Achin’ and Shakin’” which hits stores on April 13th.
Here is the video one more time for all of you LBB fans.
On April 18th, CBS will air the Academy of Country Music Awards to a national audience. The two days prior to the award show will be action packed, as a series of free concerts will take place on Freemont Street in Las Vegas during “The Week Vegas Goes Country”. Featured performers include Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, and Top New Artist Category Winners Luke Bryan, Joey + Rory and Gloriana. Concerts will go on between two stages in downtown Vegas. Here is the lineup for the two night country extravaganza.
Friday, April 16, 2010
7:00-7:30pm Emily West 1st Street Stage
7:45-8:25pm The Band Perry 1st Street Stage
8:40-9:30pm Danny Gokey 3rd Street Stage
9:45-10:30pm David Nail (Single Record of the Year Nominee) 1st Street Stage
10:45-Midnight Lady Antebellum (Top ACM Nominee with 7 Nods) 3rd Street Stage
Saturday, April 17, 2010
7:00-7:30pm Joey + Rory 1st Street Stage
(Top Vocal Duo Nominee & Top New Vocal Duo winner)*
7:45-8:25pm Gloriana (Top New Vocal Group winner)* 1st Street Stage
8:40-9:25pm Randy Rogers Band (Top Vocal Group Nominee) 3rd Street Stage
9:40-10:30 Luke Bryan (Top New Solo Vocalist winner)* 1st Street Stage
10:45-Midnight Miranda Lambert (ACM Nominee with 6 Nods) 3rd Street Stage
Country music fans continue to play an integral role in this year’s ACM Awards show. ACM is now giving fans an opportunity to vote for which Brooks and Dunn hit song they will perform at their last ACM show as a duo. Fans can vote for; “My Maria”, “Brand New Man”, “Neon Moon”, “Red Dirt Road”, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” and “Boot Scootin Boogie”. Follow the link to Brooks and Dunn page on CBS.com where you can watch all the videos from these songs and vote for your favorite.
It is almost impossible to choose from these songs. Some of these were songs that shaped my love of country music. I would probably have to decide between “My Maria” and “Red Dirt Road”. What Brooks and Dunn song are you going to vote for?
April 18th can not come fast enough for country music fans. Nominations are out, artists are vying for fan votes and now performers have been announced. The Academy of Country Music announced the first round of performers earlier today. On the 18th we will get to see; Jason Aldean, Brooks and Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins and Carrie Underwood.
The ACM Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 18th at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on CBS. These award shows are always packed with music and the ACM’s will give a national audience a great taste of why we all love country music so much. I can not wait!!!
It’s a day of videos for OCR today. Here is Luke Bryan thanking the fans. He sure sounds excited. He will need your support again when voting begins on April 1st for ACM Top New Artist. He is up against Joey and Rory and Gloriana. Good Luck Luke!!!
