Keepin' it Country Media & Radio » ACM

Taylor Swift Keeps Her Promise

Jeanna D. — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:48:01 +0000

Last year, we shared with you Kevin McGuire’s story (here) of courage and strength. At the time, he was a high school senior and football player fighting his second battle with Leukemia.

Kevin wanted one thing… for Taylor Swift to be his prom date. To make sure this became a reality, Kevin’s sister set up a Facebook page to get the word out. Through the magic of social media, Taylor became aware of Kevin’s prom invitation and sent him a response.

Unfortunately, Taylor was unable to attend Kevin’s prom, but she one-upped the offer. She asked him to be her date to the 2012 ACM Awards. Of course, Kevin gladly accepted.

Sadly, Kevin ended up back in the hospital and could not attend the ACM’s with Taylor last year. When Taylor accepted her award for Entertainer of the Year, she made sure to give a shout-out to Kevin and promised to make it up to him.

Well, Taylor made good on her promise. Kevin was her date for the ACM awards last night! Taylor flew him and his whole family to Las Vegas, and spent time with them during the weekend. And the best news of all, Kevin is now a cancer survivor!

To quote Oprah, it’s a full circle moment. We are so happy to hear that Kevin is doing so well, and we are very glad that he was able to get his date with Taylor. Kudos to Taylor for keeping a very special promise!

Pictures courtesy of Kevin’s Facebook page:

ACM Poll: Entertainer of the Year

Jeanna D. — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:44:37 +0000

Our last ACM poll is the coveted “Entertainer of the Year” Award.

Taylor Swift is the reigning EOTY. Will she and her fans take it again, or will Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, or Luke Byran be the big winner?

We love you, fellow fans & friends! Let us know your vote.

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Thank-you for voting!

ACM Poll: Vocal Event of the Year

Jeanna D. — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:41:36 +0000

Next up… “Vocal Event of the Year”! Who doesn’t love a good country collab?

Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson took this award home last year for their cross-over mega-hit, “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” Both are back in the category again this year, except with brand new and separate collaborations!

Who will win? Don’t Rush – Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill; Easy – Rascal Flatts Featuring Natasha Bedingfield; Feel Like A Rock Star – Kenny Chesney (Duet With Tim McGraw); Let It Rain – David Nail Featuring Sarah Buxton; or The Only Way I Know – Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church?

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ACM Poll: Album of the Year

Jeanna D. — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:44:30 +0000

We’re continuing the ACM madness with the “Album of the Year” poll….

These albums are all so great so it’s definitely a tough decision. Who do you want to take the trophy home?

Blown Away – Carrie Underwood, Chief – Eric Church, Red – Taylor Swift, Tailgates & Tanlines – Luke Bryan, or Tornado – Little Big Town?

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ACM: Single Record of the Year

Jeanna D. — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:18:29 +0000

Thank-you to everyone who has been voting in our ACM polls!

Here is “Single Record of the Year.” The nominees are: Even If It Breaks Your Heart – Eli Young Band; Over You – Miranda Lambert; Pontoon – Little Big Town; Springsteen – Eric Church; and Wanted – Hunter Hayes.

Who gets your vote?

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Couples and Collaborations: A Look at ACM Fashion History

Jennifer Swirsky — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 02:34:43 +0000

The 48th annual Academy of Country Music Awards are taking place this Sunday, April 7th, in Las Vegas. As we all know, the red carpet and stage fashion choices are some of the most talked about items when it comes to award shows. Back, due to popular demand, is our very own pre-award show fashion reminiscent feature! This time, we take a look at the couples and collaborations of ACMs past … and, boy, have there been some questionably horrific and unquestionably sensational choices in ACM history!

Couples:

There is no better way to kick this thing off than by discussing the 48th Annual ACM Awards host, Blake Shelton, and his blonde bombshell of a wife, Miranda Lambert. On their own, each of these two artists (whom we here at Keepin’ It Country just adore!) looks sensational. Blake looks absolutely dapper in his gray jacket, black shirt, and charcoal tie, while Miranda’s dress is just the perfect amount of flash to go with her shining personality. However, we believe each forgot to consider his/her own best accessory on the red carpet — each other! Silver and gold = giant no no, unless we are talking jewelry … We girls always make exceptions for jewelry!

If you have eyes, you know that Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are gorgeous and insanely talented. Talk about a couple whose children who hit the DNA lottery! However, natural beauty and undeniable talent does not always equate to great decisions. This particular ACM orange carpet appearance leaves a bit to be desired. Is Tim wearing a blazer or a fleece hoodie from Aeropostale? Is his shirt a collector’s item from “Saturday Night Fever”? And Faith looks like a flapper who found out she was hitting the orange carpet and decided to show her love for the Miami Dolphins (Fins to the left! Fins to the Right!). Questionable choices aside, these two are still smokin’, regardless of what they pull off the hangers on any given awards show Sunday!

It was really nice of Madame Tussaud’s to donate these wax figures of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. Oh wait, it’s really them! Nashville’s favorite Australian duo hit the red carpet at the ACMs looking fabulous. With their matching hairdos and apparent affinity for all things crushed velvet, Nicole and Keith dazzled…and probably sweated up a storm in the Las Vegas dry heat.

The Collaborations:

Rascal Flatts teamed up with cross-genre sensation, Kelly Clarkson, to sing “What Hurts the Most” at the 2006 ACMs. No question about it, the fashion choices (and stellar performance) by this collaboration surely were not hurting on this night! Ladies first — Kelly always kills it when she wears red, and this night was no exception. The plunging front shows some skin, but leaves plenty to the imagination. Kelly looks classy, comfortable, and chic on the red carpet and on the arms of country music’s popular trio. The men of Rascal Flatts look a little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n roll in vests, blazers, and t-shirts, while sporting some chest. Here’s to you, boys! Here’s to you!

Wait, is this a country awards show? Yes, yes it is. And it looks like Jem has returned from the 1980s to investigate whether Janie really does have a gun. Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith … not of American Idol, youngsters) joined Carrie Underwood during the 2011 ACM Awards to entertain country music fans with his unparalleled voice, while Carrie, once again, showed off her incomparable leg muscles. Steven dons an all-white ensemble, including a long coat, that shows off his rocker side without leaving the country folk thinking he had gone “craaaaazy craaaaazy”. Carrie looks like she grabbed her red star earring, asked Synergy to change her into Jem so she and the Holograms could battle The Mizfits. However, because she is Carrie, and because she is a goddess, she somehow pulls off what looks like Black Swan meets Girl Interrupted flawlessly.

No, really. Is this a country awards show? Also in 2011, Rihanna joined Jennifer Nettles on stage at the ACM Awards, proving once again that different genres are becoming more and more accepting of our favorite music. Let’s start with Rihanna. Unlike Steven Tyler, Rihanna doesn’t quite pull off the all-white look. In fact, with that hairdo, she looks like a Q-Tip that was dipped in iodine (likely to soothe the pain of all of us who had to endure the length of her performance). We love Jennifer Nettles. A lot. And her outfit proves one very important thing to us…She is psychic and was foreshadowing her future as a “Duets” coach. Jennifer clearly was already planning the moment she took the stage with J. Rome to perform “You’re the One That I Want” from “Grease”. On the other hand, if she chose to break into some MC Hammer dancing in those pants, that would not be shocking either.

The Co-Host No More:

We will truly miss Reba hosting this year’s awards show. Reba has become a staple on the ACMs and, while we are excited for her that she has huge projects consuming her time, this installment of the awards will be an adjustment. Reba has had some amazing moments throughout the years, but discussing all of Reba’s awards, successes, and seamless performances is no fun; and we want to have fun! As such, here are some of Reba’s not-so-amazing fashion moments in ACM history.

Thumbs up, Reba? We think not. Bad color, bad fit, bad design. Oh, and the carpet DOES, in fact, match the drapes…

Cheeeeeese! Oh Reba, clearly someone just put a mirror in front of you for the first time right when the photographer was clicking the camera because you look like you’ve just seen a ghost. Or you really need to find the ladies’ room. And thank heavens the pixie do is no more!

We saved the best for last. We rarely render ourselves speechless, but we very well may be at a loss for words here. Considering a blog is meant for words, we will leave it at this: A picture is worth a thousand of them!

Who will we fall for and who will fall victim to us on the red carpet? Who will carry home the big awards and who will go home simply holding a flask? Whose performances will shine and who will be outshone? Don’t forget to tune in this Sunday, April 7th, at 8:00 p.m. EST on CBS to find out!

Other things to look forward to during this year’s ACMs:

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”;

Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Hunter Hayes will perform together live from ACM Fan Jam;

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;

Jewel will partner with ACM Lifting Lives to perform a live mash-up of her chart-topping hit “Hands” combined with “Fill a Heart,” an original song written by singer-songwriter Tori Kelly. This special musical moment, presented by ConAgra Foods’ Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, will be performed at the 48^thANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS FAN JAM.

ACM Poll: Vocal Duo of the Year

Jeanna D. — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:12:50 +0000

We’re moving along with our ACM polls!

Who do you want to take home “Vocal Group of the Year”?

Thompson Square won this award last year. The married duo is nominated once again alongside Big & Rich, Florida Georgia Line, Love and Theft, and Sugarland.

Vote and let us know your thoughts! We love hearing from our fellow country music fans.

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ACM Poll: Vocal Group of the Year

Jeanna D. — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:50:40 +0000

It’s ACM madness…

Up next is our poll for “Vocal Group of the Year.” Reigning champs, Lady Antebellum, are back along with The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Little Big Town, and Zac Brown Band. Who’s your pick?

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ACM Poll: Male Vocalist of the Year

Jeanna D. — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:23:08 +0000

Up next in our polls are the boys with the “Male Vocalist” category!

Blake Shelton is the reigning Male Vocalist of the Year. Do you think Blake is going to take it again this year? Or is the award going to Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, or Toby Keith?

Let us know your vote!

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ACM Poll: Female Vocalist of the Year

Jeanna D. — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:51:15 +0000

As you know, the 48th Academy of Country Music Awards are this Sunday, April 7th at 8/7c on CBS.

Blake Shelton & Luke Bryan have hosting duties and the performance line-up is star-studded. It’s sure to be a great show. We can’t wait to tune in!

But first, we want your opinions. We’ll be rolling out polls over the next few days so grab your fellow fans and friends, and vote for your favorites!

We’re starting with the “Female Vocalist of the Year” category. Which country leading lady do you want to take home the trophy? It’s a tough one: reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Miranda Lambert; country royalty, Martina McBride; rising star and songwriter, Kacey Musgraves; vocal powerhouse, Carrie Underwood; and singer-songwriter phenom, Taylor Swift.

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