49th Annual ACM Awards Complete Preview

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THE 49TH ANNUAL ACM AWARDS

When: 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern on CBS. Time delayed for the West Coat.

Where: The MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

Hosts: Blake Shelton & Luke Bryan

THINGS TO WATCH FOR

Very Few Female Solo Performances

With continued talk about the lack of support for female performers in country music, only one one female solo performer will have a dedicated solo performance on the night: Miranda Lambert. The recently-countrified Sheryl Crow will also perform, but it will be with Dierks Bentley. Shakira will perform, but she is not a country performer. The Band Perry and Lady Antebellum do have female members, and will be performing as well.

Justin Moore Ineligibility Issue for New Artist of the Year

Justin Moore is one of three artists up for New Artist of the Year, but is ineligible for the award for having two albums that have sold over 500,000 copies. Despite the ACM’s acknowledgement of the issue, and Justin Moore’s acknowledgement, nothing has been done to resolve it. Moore has to be considered a frontrunner for the award, and if he wins, it promises to stir the controversy anew.

Tribute to Merle Haggard

The ACM’s will throw a tribute for The Hag as part of the festivities, with performances by Miranda Lambert and George Strait. They will sing “Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down” and “I’m A Lonesome Fugitive.” Merle will also receive the Crystal Milestone Award, and it will be presented to him by Garth Brooks. It also happens to be Merle Haggard’s birthday.

George Strait & the Entertainer of the Year

There will be even greater intrigue about the Entertainer of the Year award than normal with the possibility that King George could walk away with the night’s top prize just like he did at the CMA Awards in November. There’s also intrigue of who may win because of the ACM’s fan voting process. The unspecified amount of clout fans have in the award has called into question the legitimacy of the fan vote, with some Taylor Swift fans wondering why she was briefly announced as the winner last year, and Kenny Chesney calling out the fan vote a few years back.

THE PRESENTERS

Artists confirmed to present awards include Garth Books, Trisha Yearwood, Florida Georgia Line, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, David Nail, Darius Rucker, Clay Walker, Jewel, and LL Cool J.

Non performing presenters include journalist and TV personality Thea Andrews, chef Guy Fieri, actress Olivia Munn, Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell, and actor Chris O’Donnell.

THE PERFORMERS

The Band Perry will open the show with their song “Chainsaw.”

Dierks Bentley and Sheryl Crow will perform Dierk’s song “I Hold On.”

Lee Brice will perform his ACM-nominated song “I Drive Your Truck.”

Brad Paisley will debut a new single “River Bank.”

Rascal Flatts will play “Rewind.”

Darius Rucker will play his Grammy-awarded version of “Wagon Wheel.”

Blake Shelton and Shakira will perform their duet “Medicine.”

Tim McGraw will sing “Meanwhile.”

Lady Antebellum with Stevie Nicks will sing “Compass” and “Rhiannon.”

Miranda Lambert will sing her single “Automatic” and participate in the Merle Haggard tribute.

George Strait will also perform in the Merle Haggard tribute.

Luke Bryan & Florida Georgia Line will perform “This Is How We Roll” with help from Nitro Circus action sports stars.

Other Performers

  • Eric Church
  • Brett Eldridge
  • Toby Keith
  • Hunter Hayes – Performing “Invisible”
  • Jason Aldean
  • Justin Moore
  • Kip Moore
  • Keith Urban

 

AWARD NOMINEES

Entertainer of the Year

  • Luke Bryan
  • Blake Shelton
  • George Strait
  • Taylor Swift
  • Miranda Lambert

Male Vocalist of the Year

  • Jason Aldean
  • Lee Brice
  • Luke Bryan
  • Blake Shelton
  • Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year

  • Sheryl Crow
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Kacey Musgraves
  • Taylor Swift
  • Carrie Underwood

Single Record of the Year

  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Lee Brice “I Drive Your Truck”
  • Miranda Lambert “Mama’s Broken Heart”
  • Darius Rucker “Wagon Wheel”

Album of the Year

  • Based On A True Story”¦” Blake Shelton
  • “Crash My Party” Luke Bryan
  • “Here’s To The Good Times” Florida Georgia Line
  • “Same Trailer Different Park” Kacey Musgraves
  • “Two Lanes Of Freedom” Tim McGraw

Song of the Year

  • “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain)” Gary Allan Songwriters: Gary Allan, Hillary Lindsey, Matthew Warren
  • “I Drive Your Truck” Lee Brice    Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary
  • “Mama’s Broken Heart” Miranda Lambert Songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
  • “Mine Would Be You” Blake Shelton Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Deric Ruttan
  • “Wagon Wheel” Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum Songwriters: Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor

Vocal Event of the Year

  • Boys ‘Round Here” Blake Shelton Featuring The Pistol Annies
  • “Cruise” (Remix) Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly
  • “Highway Don’t Care: Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
  • “Wagon Wheel” Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum
  • “We Were Us” Keith Urban And Miranda Lambert

Vocal Duo of the Year

  • Big & Rich
  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Love and Theft
  • Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the Year

  • Eli Young Band
  • Lady Antebellum
  • Little Big Town
  • The Band Perry
  • Zac Brown Band

Video of the Year

  • “Better Dig Two” The Band Perry Producer
  • “Blowin’ Smoke” Kacey Musgraves Producer
  • “Highway Don’t Care” Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
  • “I Drive Your Truck” Lee Brice Producer: Karen Martin Director: Eric Welch
  • “Mama’s Broken Heart” Miranda Lambert
  • “Two Black Cadillacs” Carrie Underwood

 

SAVING COUNTRY MUSIC’S WINNER PREDICTIONS

See Full List of Predictions for the 49th Annual ACM Awards

Entertainer of the Year

  • George Strait – Winner
  • Luke Bryan Other Potential Winner

Male Vocalist of the Year

  • Luke Bryan Winner
  • Blake Shelton Other Potential Winner

Female Vocalist of the Year

  • Miranda Lambert Winner

Single of the Year

  • Florida Georgia Line “Cruise” Winner

Song of the Year

  • “I Drive Your Truck” Lee Brice    Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary Winner
  • “Wagon Wheel” Darius Rucker Featuring Lady Antebellum Songwriters: Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor Other Potential Winner

Vocal Event of the Year

  • “Highway Don’t Care: Tim McGraw Featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban Winner

Vocal Duo of the Year

  • Florida Georgia Line Winner

 SPECIAL AWARDS & AWARDS ALREADY GIVEN

Shane McAnally has won Songwriter of the Year

Carrie Underwood has received the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award for “unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music.”

Ronnie Milsap and Toby Keith were both give Career Achievement Awards for “Individual artist, duo, group or multiple artist collaboration that has advanced the popularity and acceptance of country music.”

Rascall Flatts and Steve Buchanan of the Grand Ole Opry have received the Jim Reeves International Award, which is presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.

”Jack Clement (awarded posthumously), Dean Dillon, Kris Kristofferson, and Buck Owens were given the Poet’s Award given to songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers.

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