Las Vegas Weekly

March 3, 2010 · 11:45 AM

Lady Antebellum receives 7 ACM nods; awards at MGM on April 18

By Robin Leach

Lady Antebellum at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Country queen Reba McEntire will host the Academy of Country Music Awards for the 12th year when the 45th annual star-studded event is broadcast from our MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 18. The next night, CBS will record a special marking the last tour this summer for Brooks & Dunn titled The Last Rodeo.

Once again, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn have been nominated for Top Vocal Duo. If they win, it would be their 16th vocal duo award. They also will be presented with the ACM Milestone Award in recognition of their 20-year, record-breaking career.

In other nominations announced yesterday on CBS’ The Early Show in New York by Reba and Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum led with seven nominations. Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood received six nods, followed by Taylor Swift with five, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Best New Artist Grammy winner the Zac Brown Band with four and Zac with two on his own.

Photo: Getty Images/ACM

Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton on CBS' The Early Show.

The stars will be in Las Vegas that weekend, and it’s the first time that eight artists have been nominated for Entertainer of the Year, including first-time nominees Taylor Swift and the Zac Brown Band. If Carrie wins, she would become the only female to win the award not only twice but also in consecutive years in the 40-year history of the award.

For the third year, fans and viewers will select the winner of the most prestigious Entertainer of the Year Award and, for a second year, the three newcomer categories: Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo. Competing for Entertainer of the Year will be Kenny, Toby Keith, Brad, George Strait, Taylor, Carrie, Keith Urban and the Zac Brown Band. You can cast votes at VoteACM.com until March 12.

Dave Matthews, who recently performed at Planet Hollywood’s Theater for Performing Arts, received his first ACM nod. Other first-time nominees include Billy Gibbons, Bomshel, Gloriana, Randy Houser, David Nail, Darius Rucker and Steel Magnolia. Joey + Rory and Steel Magnolia are nominated for Top New Vocal Duo and Top Vocal Duo. Montgomery Gentry will receive the 9th annual Home Depot Humanitarian Award for their community service; LeAnn Rimes was last year’s recipient.

Country’s biggest party of the year in Las Vegas will once again be “The Week Vegas Goes Country.” For the four consecutive year, ACM will present concerts at the downtown Fremont Street Experience with Lady Antebellum on April 16 and Miranda Lambert on April 17. On April 17 for the sixth consecutive year, Montgomery Gentry will host dozens of country music stars and industry VIPs for the scenic motorcycle ride through Red Rock Canyon and our neighboring desert runs. Also on Saturday is a first-ever country concert for the servicemen and servicewomen out at our Nellis Air Force Base.

After the televised awards, there will be an all-star jam featuring impromptu performances from artists who participated in the televised broadcast. On April 19, the two-hour Brooks & Dunn special will feature Kenny, Reba, Rascal Flatts, Carrie and Keith. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks for the show to be taped for later broadcast on CBS.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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