The following is a press release from the Academy of Country Music:
The Academy of Country Music® revealed today that thirteen-time ACM Award® winner Carrie Underwood will perform the world television premiere of her soon-to-be-released single live on the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™, joining a star-studded lineup of performers and presenters.
Underwood is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year as well as Vocal Event of the Year for “The Fighter” with Keith Urban. The 53rd ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.
Previously announced ACM Awards performers include Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Midland, Maren Morris, Jon Pardi, Bebe Rexha, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Brett Young. Previously announced presenters include David Boreanaz, Drew Brees, AJ Buckley, Cam, Sam Elliot, Eve, Ashton Kutcher, Dustin Lynch, Nancy O’Dell, Rebecca Romijn, Max Thieriot and Lindsey Vonn.
Tickets to the ACM Awards are now on sale at www.axs.com. For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events including ACM Party for a Cause®, visit www.ACMcountry.com and www.PartyForaCause.com. You can like Academy of Country Music on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @ACMawards and Instagram @ACMAwards for more immediate updates.
About the Academy of Country Music Awards
The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™ is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM live ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are executive producers. Pete Fisher is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.
As details are still emerging about the mass murder shooting at the Route 91 Harvest outdoor music festival in Las Vegas, festival performer Jason Aldean and other celebrities have been making statements about the tragedy, in which at least 59 people were killed and more than 500 people injured on October 1, 2017. It is the worst mass-murder shooting in U.S. history. Stephen Craig Paddock, the 64-year-old suspected shooter, fired automatic weapons from his hotel suite at nearby Mandalay Bay, and reportedly committed suicide before he could be apprehended by police. Paddock is believed to be the only shooter in this crime.
Aldean was performing at the concert when the shooting happened. He issued this statement on his official Twitter account: “Tonight has been beyond horrific. I still don’t know what to say but wanted to let everyone know that me and my crew are safe. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved tonight. It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night.”
Aldean was the last performer at the three-day festival, whose other headliners were Eric Church (on September 29) and Sam Hunt (on September 30). The sold-out event was attended by about 22,000 people on the Las Vegas Strip when the gun attack began at 10:05 p.m. Pacific Time.
Jake Owen, who performed on stage before Aldean at the festival, tweeted these comments on October 1: “Praying for everyone here in Vegas. I witnessed the most unimaginable event tonight. We are okay. Others aren’t. Please pray.”
Owen later tweeted, “Gun shots were ringing off of the stage rigging and road cases. No one knew where to go..thank you LVPD and responders for keeping us safe.”
John Rich of Big & Rich, who also performed at the festival on October 1 , tweeted after the tragedy: “We are ok. But our fans and friends are not. This is the worst of humanity at work. Praying for the victims in Vegas tonight.”
Route 91 festival performer Maren Morris tweeted on October 2: “Played Route 91 in Vegas the night before last. We were all singing. I’m in shock over this. Heartbroken for all those lives taken too soon.”
Live Nation, the promotion company behind Route 91 Harvest, issued this statement on October 2: “We are heartbroken over the tragedy that took place at the Route 91 Harvest festival. To think that anyone would want to inflict harm on a gathering of music lovers is beyond our comprehension. And while we are stunned and grieving over this incomprehensible act of violence, we know that this is a moment when we must come together to prevent more tragedies like this from occurring.
“Live Nation will do everything in our power to support the victims and their families through the aftermath of this horrendous event and extends our deepest gratitude to the heroic first responders who helped save as many lives as possible. To our Live Nation on-site employees, we cannot thank you enough for your bravery and perseverance over the past 24 hours and will ensure you have the resources and support necessary to heal from this.”
According to the Associated Press, dead gunman Paddock was a retired multimillionaire who did not have a known history of committing violence or having mental illness. However, his estranged father, Benjamin Hoskins Paddock (who went by several aliases and died in 1998), had a long criminal history, including arrests for bank robbery in 1960, escaping from prison in 1968 (which put him on the FBI’s Most Wanted list) and racketeering in 1987.
October 3, 2017 UPDATE:
Aldean has cancelled his California concerts that were scheduled to take place on October 6 in Los Angeles, October 7 in San Diego and October 8 in Anaheim. In a statement posted on his official website, Aldean said: “I feel like out of respect for the victims, their families and our fans, it is the right thing to do. It has been an emotional time for everyone involved this week, so we plan to take some time to mourn the ones we have lost and be close with our family and friends.”
In addition, Aldean posted this message on his Instagram account: “Over the last 24 hrs I have gone through lots of emotions. Fear, Anger, Heartache, Compassion and many others. I truely dont [sic] understand why a person would want to take the life of another. Something has changed in this country and in this world lately that is scary to see. This world is becoming the kind of place i am afraid to raise my children in. At the end of the day we arent [sic] Democrats or Republicans, Whites or Blacks, Men or Women. We are all humans and we are all Americans and its time to start acting like it and stand together as ONE! That is the only way we will ever get this Country to be better than it has ever been, but we have a long way to go and we have to start now. My heart aches for the Victims and their families of this Senseless act. I am so sorry for the hurt and pain everyone is feeling right now and there are no words i can say to to take that pain away. Just know u all are in my heart and my prayers as we all go through this together. Time to come together and stop the hate! #stopthehate#prayforlasvegas”
Meanwhile, Route 91 Harvest issued this statement:
“On behalf of the entire Route 91 Harvest Family, we are completely devastated by the event that occurred Sunday night.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the injured and the deceased and their loved ones, senseless violence has claimed the souls of our fans and we have little in the way of answers.
“Our eternal gratitude goes out to the LVPD, Emergency services, security guards, and fans for their selfless acts of bravery while trying to help those in need.
“While we will try and move forward, we will never forget this day.
“We will NOT let hate win over LOVE.
“We will NOT be defeated by senseless violence.
“We WILL persevere, and honor the souls that were lost.
Because it matters.”
Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Thomas Rhett were among the big winners at the 52nd Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, which took place April 2, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Aldean won Entertainer of the Year. Rhett won Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year. Lambert won Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year. Florida Georgia Line and Brothers Osbourne also won two ACM Awards each: Florida Georgia Line won Single of the Year (for “H.O.L.Y.”) and Vocal Event of the Year (for “May We All” featuring Tim McGraw). Brothers Osbourne won for Best New Duo or Group (an award that was announced before the show took place) and Best Duo of the Year. Keith Urban went into the show with the most nominations (seven) as an individual but didn’t win any of those ACM Awards . However, he technically won an ACM Award for being a part of the all-star group Artists of Then, Now & Forever, which won the prize for Video Event of the Year.
Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley hosted the ACM Awards for the second year in a row. The two stars joked around (including doing a bit with a wax figure of Bryan) and performed multiple times on the show, as solo artists and as part of a collaboration with other artists. At the beginning of the show, Bryan and Bentley teamed up with Joe Walsh to perform “Johnny B. Goode” as a tribute to the late Chuck Berry. CBS had the live U.S. telecast of the show, which was produced by Dick Clark Productions and ACM. The ACM’s professional membership selects the nominees and winners of the ACM Awards.
Other performers at the show included Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Backstreet Boys, Florida Georgia Line, Brothers Osbourne, Jon Pardi, Kelsea Ballerini, Sam Hunt, Rascal Flatts, Rhett, Reba McEntire, Lauren Daigle, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Swindell, Carrie Underwood and Urban.
Here is the complete list of nominations and winners for the 52nd Annual ACM Awards:
*=winner
Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean*
Luke Bryan
Florida Georgia Line
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Dierks Bentley Thomas Rhett*
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert*
Maren Morris
Kacey Musgraves
Carrie Underwood
Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich Brothers Osborne*
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Vocal Group of the Year
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum Little Big Town*
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
New Male Vocalist of the Year Presented by T-Mobile
Kane Brown
Chris Janson
Chris Lane Jon Pardi*
Brett Young
New Female Vocalist of the Year Presented by T-Mobile
Lauren Alaina
Cam
Brandy Clark Maren Morris*
New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year Presented by T-Mobile
A Thousand Horses Brothers Osborne*
Dan + Shay
LOCASH
Maddie & Tae
Album of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“Black” – Dierks Bentley (Producers: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora Jr.; Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville)
“Dig Your Roots” – Florida Georgia Line (Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group)
“Hero” – Maren Morris (Producers: busbee, Brad Hill, Maren Morris; Record Label: Columbia Nashville)
“Ripcord” – Keith Urban (Producers: Jeff Bhasker, busbee, Nathan Chapman, Nitzan Kaikov, Dann Huff, Tyler Johnson, Johnny Price, Nile Rodgers, Keith Urban, Greg Wells; Record Label: Hit Red Records, Capitol Records Nashville)
“The Weight of These Wings” – Miranda Lambert (Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Record Label: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records)*
Single Record of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban (Producers: Dann Huff, Keith Urban; Record Labels: Hit Red Records, Capitol Records Nashville)
“H.O.L.Y.” – Florida Georgia Line (Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group)*
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw (Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw; Record Label: McGraw Music, Big Machine Records)
“My Church” – Maren Morris (Producers: busbee, Maren Morris; Record Label: Columbia Nashville)
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert (Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Record Label: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records)
Song of the Year [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban (Songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Lee Olsen; Publishers: WB Music Corp (ASCAP), Music Of The Corn (ASCAP), HillarodyRathbone Music (ASCAP), BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP), House of Sea Gayle Music (ASCAP), Spirit Catalog Holdings (S.a.r.l.), Spirit Two Nashville (ASCAP))
“Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett (Songwriters: Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur; Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music Inc (BMI), Cricket On The Line (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), Eastman Pond Publishing (BMI), Music of Big Deal (BMI), Nice Life (BMI), Frederic And Reid Music (BMI), BMG Platinum Songs (BMI), Brodsky Spensive Publishing (BMI))*
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw (Songwriter: Lori McKenna; Publishers: Songs of Universal Inc (BMI), Hoodie Songs (BMI))
“Kill a Word” – Eric Church Featuring Rhiannon Giddens (Songwriters: Eric Church, Luke Dick, Jeff Hyde; Publishers: Emileon Songs (BMI), Little Louder Songs (BMI), Longer And Louder Music (BMI), Mammaw’s Fried Okra Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI))
“Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton (Songwriters: Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove; Publishers: Universal-Songs Of PolyGram International (BMI), EMI Algee (BMI))
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert (Songwriters: Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Smack Hits (GMR), Kobalt Music Group, Ltd. (GMR), Anderson Fork In The Road Music (ASCAP), Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc. (ASCAP), Smackville Music (ASCAP))
Video of the Year Presented by Xfinity [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
“Fire Away” – Chris Stapleton (Director: Tim Mattia; Producer: Jennifer Rothlein)
“Forever Country” – Artists of Then, Now & Forever (Director: Joseph Kahn; Producers: Nathan de la Rionda, Jil Hardin, Charleen Manca, Joanna Carter, Chandra LaPlume, Sarah Trahern, Damon Whiteside)*
“Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw (Director: Wes Edwards; Producer: Jennifer Rothlein)
Peter Pan – Kelsea Ballerini (Director: Kristin Barlowe; Producer: Michelle Abnet)
Vocal Event of the Year [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
“Different for Girls” – Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King (Producers: Ross Copperman, Arturo Buenahora Jr.; Record Label: Capitol Records Nashville
“Forever Country” – Artists of Then, Now & Forever (Producer: Shane McAnally; Record Label: MCA Nashville)
“May We All” – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Tim McGraw (Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group)*
“Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney featuring P!nk (Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney; Record Labels: Blue Chair Records, Columbia Nashville)
“Think of You” – Chris Young featuring Cassadee Pope (Producers: Corey Crowder, Chris Young; Record Labels: RCA Nashville, RCA Records)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Awards counts for artists reflect categories in which they have been recognized as individuals or as part of their duo or group. In some cases, an artist may receive more than one nomination which factors into their official count. For example, Keith Urban received two nominations in the Album of the Year category—one each as artist and producer—because that category recognizes both.
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards have announced the initial list of performers for the 2017 show, which will take place April 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The performers will include Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, and Maren Morris. The Backstreet Boys will make their debut appearance at the ACM Awards, performing with Florida Georgia Line; the two acts are touring together in 2017.
As previously announced, Keith Urban is the leading award contender for the show: He received the most nominations (seven) for the 52nd Annual ACM Awards. Bryan and Bentley will return for the second year in a row to host the ACM Awards, which is produced for television by Dick Clark Productions. CBS will have the live U.S. telecast.
March 14, 2017 UPDATE: These winners have been announced, and they will be performing at the 2017 ACM Awards:
Brothers Osborne – New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year presented by T-Mobile
Maren Morris (previously announced performer) – New Female Vocalist of the Year presented by T-Mobile
Jon Pardi – New Male Vocalist of the Year presented by T-Mobile