Previewing Tonight’s ACM Show

The 48^th annual Academy of Country Music Awards take place Sunday night in Las Vegas.  The team planning the show promises a lot of amazing performances throughout the night.  But they suggest you don’t miss the start of the show.  Blake Shelton will open the telecast with a can’t miss exciting performance featuring co-host Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley on guitar, Sheryl Crow, and Pistol Annies, including Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. This marks the world premiere performance of “Boys ‘Round Here,” Shelton’s second single off his latest album, Based On A True Story.

Other highlights include:

– Tim McGraw will perform “Highway Don’t Care” with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban

– Hunter Hayes will world premiere his new single “I Want Crazy,” and then be joined later by legendary music icon Stevie Wonder

– Kelly Clarkson will perform “Don’t Rush”

– Luke Bryan will debut his new single “Crash My Party.”

– Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Hunter Hayes will perform together live from ACM Fan Jam.  Also, John Mayer has been added to this part of the show.

– Brad Paisley To Turn ACM Fan Jam Audience Into A Multi-Colored Light Show: Brad Paisley is inviting fans to become a part of his light show at ACM Fan Jam by downloading the Brad Paisley Lightshow app.

– Country superstar Reba will introduce the George Strait and Garth Brooks performance. As previously announced, Strait and Brooks will perform together for the first time ever to pay tribute to Dick Clark. Each will perform a version of one of their classic hits and then join together for a very special moment.

Other performers include Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, and The Band Perry.

Fans can vote for New Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year at www.ACMVote.com  Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer, and Florida Georgia Line are competing in the New Artist category.  The drama is that Brantley and Jana are engaged.  We asked Brantley how that might affect the voting: “We’re both supportive of each other.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to bring it home.  This is our last chance to win, so we’re hoping to bring it home.  If Jana or I win it, it goes to the same house.  But I don’t want you to get it twisted.  We want to win it!”

Entertainer of the Year nominees are Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and Taylor Swift.  It’s rare for a married couple to compete for the top award.  Blake and Miranda are in that category.  We asked both about it.  Blake said: “It’s like our careers are at the peak at the same time.  The odds of that happening at the same time are crazy.  And I ‘d love to see her win it, because I know how hard she works, and I know important performing is to her.”  Miranda said, “I’m not ready to win it, but being able to get to the point where you’re nominated, it’s the first step to where you could become Kenny Chesney.  The award means how you represent  country music, all day every day.  If you think about it that way, I should take it home.”  This is the first time Luke Bryan is nominated in this category.  He said, “When I moved to Nashville, I knew I wanted to be the Entertainer of the Year at some point.  If that ever happens, it’ll be one of the biggest most defining moments of my career.”  Jason Aldean said, “There’s never been any question that’s the one on my bucket list that I want.  I would trade all the rest of them in for that one.  That one means more to me than any of them.”  Taylor Swift won the award last year, so she’s the reigning Entertainer of the Year.  She gave all the credit to her fans: “It’s fan voted, and if anybody listening to this felt like voting, I wouldn’t stop you.  I wouldn’t tell you not to.”

Category: NEWS