April 3, 2009 · 12:23 PM

It’s a country star-studded weekend in Las Vegas for ACMAs

By Melissa Arseniuk

Toby Keith.

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

While Alan Jackson proclaimed the world had “gone country” in 1994, Las Vegas is going undeniably country this weekend, as the Academy of Country Music Awards takes over the MGM Grand.

The 44th annual awards show will see dozens of the industry’s biggest, brightest and newest stars descend upon the city.

Unsurprisingly, Jackson is among those expected to attend.

The legendary icon will play Terrible’s Star of the Desert arena at Primm Valley tonight, on the eve of ACMA weekend.

We don’t know whether or not Jackson will sing his ’94 hit single, but one thing is for sure: It will be a country star-studded weekend in the southern Silver State.

While another famed country crooner, Trace Adkins, will play Star of the Desert on Saturday, country music fans need not venture out to Primm in hopes of catching a glimpse of country greatness in advance of Sunday’s awards show.

In fact, a solar system of Nashville’s stars will be shining across Las Vegas all weekend.

Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott will party twice as hard tonight, as she celebrates both her birthday and her group’s ACMA nomination for top vocal group of the year at The Bank.

While it’s not known if Scott’s bandmates Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood will join her at the Bellagio hotspot, it would hardly be a surprise if the two popped by to celebrate alongside their leading lady.

Meanwhile, Fremont Street will be abuzz with country music all weekend, with a handful of free concerts today and Saturday.

Four performers will play each night, spit between the First and Third Street stages. The music is scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. and will continuing on until midnight.

Julianne Hough of <em>Dancing With the Stars</em>.

Photo: Academy of Country Music

Julianne Hough of Dancing With the Stars.

This year’s ACMA top new male and female vocalists, Jake Owen and Julianne Hough, will play tonight. Owen will take to the First Street stage for an hour-long show starting at 9 p.m., while Hough, who is also nominated in the top new artist category, will play the Third Street stage from 7:45 until 8:30 p.m.

Tonight’s headliner is Jason Aldean, while LeAnn Rimes will take to the Third Street stage in tomorrow’s main event spot at 10:45 p.m.

ACMA’s top new vocal duo or group winner and top new artist nominees, the Zac Brown Band, will also play the Third Street stage tomorrow night, from 7:40 until 8:55 p.m.

Still, there’s far more to country stargazing than simply going to concerts. In fact, spotting a star in the “wild” can be just as thrilling as seeing them onstage.

To get an idea for who to be on the lookout for this weekend, one needs to look no further than the ACMA program.

The collection of ACMA nominees reads like a who’s who of Nashville. Add to it the list of performers and one red hot, redheaded host and you’ve got dozens of reasons to shoot for the stars – or at least keep your eyes open for them – this weekend.

The show will be hosted by 11-time Academy of Country Music Award winner Reba McEntire. The singing sensation has enjoyed 41 ACMA nominations, her first coming 28 years ago, in 1981.

She will join performers including Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Heidi Newfield, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Miley Cyrus, Jamey Johnson, John Rich and Lee Ann Womack.

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Academy of Country Music

Toby Keith will also perform during Sunday’s awards show and may even pop by his namesake bar and grill at Harrah’s before or after the show.

Dozens of nominees will be filtering around town, too. Here’s a list of the key nominees, divided by category, to keep an eye out for this weekend:

Entertainer of the Year

Kenny Chesney

Brad Paisley

George Strait

Carrie Underwood

Keith Urban

Top Male Vocalist

Kenny Chesney

Toby Keith

Brad Paisley

George Strait

Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist

Miranda Lambert

Heidi Newfield

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Lee Ann Womack

Top Vocal Group

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Rascal Flatts

Randy Rogers Band

The Lost Trailers

Top Vocal Duo

Big & Rich

Brooks & Dunn

Joey + Rory

Montgomery Gentry

Sugarland

Top New Male Vocalist

Jamey Johnson

James Otto

Jake Owen (already declared the winner)

Top New Female Vocalist

Sarah Buxton

Julianne Hough (already declared the winner)

Ashton Shepherd

Top New Vocal Duo or Group

Eli Young Band

The Lost Trailers

Zac Brown Band (already declared the winner)

Top New Artist

Julianne Hough

Jake Owen

Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year

Back When I Knew It All – Montgomery Gentry

Carnival Ride – Carrie Underwood

Fearless – Taylor Swift

That Lonesome Song – Jamey Johnson

Troubadour – George Strait

Single Record of the Year

Gunpowder & Lead - Miranda Lambert

In Color - Jamey Johnson

Johnny And June - Heidi Newfield

Waitin' On A Woman - Brad Paisley

You're Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins

Song of the Year

“I Saw God Today” - George Strait

“In Color” - Jamey Johnson

“Johnny And June” - Heidi Newfield

“Waitin' On A Woman” - Brad Paisley

“You're Gonna Miss This” - Trace Adkins

Video of the Year

“Johnny And June” - Heidi Newfield

“Just A Dream” - Carrie Underwood

“Love Story” - Taylor Swift

“Troubadour” - George Strait

“Waitin' On A Woman” - Brad Paisley

Vocal Event of the Year

Another Try - Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood

Cowgirls Don't Cry - Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire

Down The Road - Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally

Life In A Northern Town - Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen

Start A Band - Brad Paisley and Keith Urban

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