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  • Taylor Swift’s Mom Gives Emotional Speech On Heels of Cancer Diagnosis

    Taylor Swift’s mom Andrea gave a moving speech about her talented daughter, before presenting her with a career-honoring award at the 50th ACM Awards on Sunday.

    “I’ve watched this milestone artist since she was a tangled-haired little girl growing up on our farm, full of imagination and creativity, until right now, as she prepares for her next world tour,” Taylor Swift’s mom told the audience. “And ever since then, her favorite thing in the world to do has been to write a song, tell a story, play a guitar or a piano. And I’ve seen those things carry her through every emotion, every experience in her life–good or bad.”

    “Like many of you out there tonight with children of your own, I am a very proud mom,” she added before Taylor joined her on stage to accept the Milestone award.

    Taylor Swift’s mom is no stranger to the ACM Awards stage. Back in 2008, Taylor delivered a very emotional speech in honor of her mom.

    While nothing was said at the ACM Awards Sunday about Taylor Swift’s mom having cancer, the singer’s fans very clearly remember her announcement via Tumblr earlier this month.

    ‘Hey guys,

    I’m writing to you with an update I wish I wasn’t giving you, but it’s important and I’m used to sharing important events in my life with you. Usually when things happen to me, I process them and then write music about how I feel, and you hear it much later. This is something my family and I thought you should know about now.

    For Christmas this year, I asked my mom that one of her gifts to me be her going to the doctor to get screened for any health issues, just to ease some worries of mine. She agreed, and went in to get checked. There were no red flags and she felt perfectly fine, but she did it just to get me and my brother off her case about it.

    The results came in, and I’m saddened to tell you that my mom has been diagnosed with cancer. I’d like to keep the details of her condition and treatment plans private, but she wanted you to know.

    She wanted you to know because your parents may be too busy juggling everything they’ve got going on to go to the doctor, and maybe you reminding them to go get checked for cancer could possibly lead to an early diagnosis and an easier battle… Or peace of mind in knowing that they’re healthy and there’s nothing to worry about. She wanted you to know why she may not be at as many shows this tour. She’s got an important battle to fight.

    Thank you for caring about my family so much that she would want me to share this information with you.

    I hope and pray that you never get news like this.

    Love you.

    Taylor’

    If you weren’t aware that Taylor Swift’s mom has cancer, then you now realize just how powerful her speech on stage at Sunday’s ACM Awards was–to Taylor Swift, as well as to all of her fans.

  • Christina Aguilera: Songstress Takes On Country Music, Performs At ACM Awards

    Christina Aguilera has shown that she can do pretty much anything she sets her mind to.

    The sexy songstress is already an accomplished singer-songwriter and is currently one of the coaches on The Voice.  But on Sunday, Aguilera showed her more laid back, country side when she performed with the Rascal Flatts at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards.

    During the event, which was co-hosted by Aguilera’s fellow The Voice coach Blake Shelton, the diva started out slow as she performed her Nashville hit “Shotgun” before seamlessly moving into the Rascal Flatt’s hit “Riot.”

    The singer was excited about her country performance, even tweeting about it before the show. And even though it was her first time to perform at the ACM’s, the 34-year-old singer looked completely at ease.

    Wearing a white, figure hugging dress paired with a denim jacket and a half-ponytail, the “Beautiful” singer put her powerful voice on display during her performance of “Shotgun,” a song that was written for her character on the TV show Nashville.

    Coincidentally (or not), Aguilera is portraying Jade St. John on the show, a pop singer who also wants to bust out in the world of country music. The pop star showed real commitment to her character, changing not just her sound but also her looks for her 3-episode performance.

    Fans can hear “Shotgun” again when she performs it from the Bluebird Café in this week’s episode of Nashville.

    The singer has admitted to a strong connection with the song.

    “I really love the song. It speaks to long-lasting love, the roads it takes, the turns it makes and how it lasts forever,” she explained in an earlier interview. “When I perform it, I really think of that older couple who have been through it all and who have stood the test of time with the changes that their relationship goes through.”

  • Christina Aguilera Talks ‘Nashville’ Role, Is Country Music in Her Future?

    Christina Aguilera is starring in an arc on the hit TV show Nashville. She kicked it off last Wednesday, and returns this week in her role as Jade St. John. St. John is a pop singer whose dream is to go country. Aguilera’s appearance on the show has fans wondering if The Voice coach might try her hand at the country genre.

    “I think my roots will stay where they are,” she said in a recent interview with People magazine, “but that doesn’t mean there won’t be more collaborations down the line.”

    Christina Aguilera is open to even more TV appearances, however.

    “My experiences in acting have been really great, so if the role is right I am always open to it,” she says, adding that her “true love will always stay music.”

    Aguilera explains her role on Nashville as that of a singer who is “caught between her love and her passion and what the record label wants of her as an artist.”

    Christina Aguilera was more than willing to transform her appearance for this role, too, which isn’t unlike the ‘Beautiful’ singer in real life. For Nashville, she went brunette, and pink as well.

    Long familiar with the world of country music, thanks to fellow Voice coach Blake Shelton, Aguilera was comfortable making the temporary switch. She did such a great job of it that she’s singing at the 50th ACM Awards in Arlington, Texas on Sunday night, where Blake Shelton is serving as one of the hosts alongside Luke Bryan.

    Did you catch Christina Aguilera last Wednesday in her role as Jade St. John on Nashville? Do you think The Voice judge has what it takes to make a permanent switch to the country music world?

  • Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan Bromance Hot and Hilarious Ahead of ACM Awards

    Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan are hosting Sunday’s ACM Awards, and their bromance seems to be heating up in advance of the big day.

    In a press conference on Friday, it became abundantly clear that humor will be as prevalent as music at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards, and since it’s the 50th anniversary of the event, there will no doubt be some special performances, too.

    Miranda Lambert leads the nominees with eight ACM nominations. Keith Urban and Eric Church will start the event with a kickoff performance. A-list attendees include Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks.

    “I don’t even know who’s singing. That’s just the God’s honest truth,” Blake Shelton says. “I know Miranda is and I always look forward to that.”

    The banter between Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan at this press conference was hilarious, and is no doubt only a prelude of what’s to come on Sunday.

    “I want something to go wrong today so I know something won’t go wrong during the show,” ACM Awards executive producer R.A. Clark, son of the late Dick Clark, said.

    “That will be Blake’s rehearsal,” Bryan replied.

    Both Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan are nominated for male vocalist of the year.

    “We can duke it out right now,” Bryan said when asked who should win.

    “I’m going to take the high road here,” Shelton said, “and I say I do.”

    Blake Shelton reportedly won’t be holding back when it comes to jokes at the ACM Awards.

    “Being it’s the 50th, it’s cool we’re going way back and we’re honoring some of these artists that have been here like Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert–digging way back,” he said to laughter from the press conference attendees.

    Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Brooks & Dunn will also be honored at the event.

    “You’re probably an icon award guy, too, aren’t you?” Blake Shelton asked Luke Bryan. “No, you’re too new.”

    Talk turned to The Voice, and how the singing competition show has changed Blake Shelton.

    “He’s been getting some facials,” he said. “He’s hydrating early in the morning. He’s exfoliating.”

    “I apologize for my tardiness,” said Bryan, who arrived a couple minutes late to the press conference. “It’s a lot of work getting prepared to look better than Blake.”

    If this was the comedy banter between Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan at the press conference, then the ACM Awards should be positively hilarious. Whether Shelton beats Bryan out for male vocalist of the year or it goes the other way around, their bromance will help the two maintain their bosom buddy status.

    Will you be tuning it to see the show? It airs Sunday evening at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Fans might forget it’s a country music awards show when they listen to these two in their roles as comedians.

  • Lady Antebellum: Tour Bus Catches On Fire On Way to ACM Awards

    Members of Lady Antebellum were en route to the ACM Awards in Arlington, Texas on Thursday morning when the tour bus on which they were traveling caught on fire.

    Singer Hillary Scott was frightened when the fire broke out as they were headed down the highway. Fortunately no one was injured in the fire.

    The Lady Antebellum lead singer shared a photo of the charred bus via social media with a photo on Instagram.

    “Hey guys, we had a crazy morning on the way to Dallas today. Our bus tire caught on fire and we had to evacuate very quickly. EVERYONE IS SAFE AND SOUND. It was me, my husband, our tour manager, and driver. Thanking God for our safety and the safety of all of those who helped put this fire out and keep us safe. Love you all!!!! ~hillary,” she captioned the photo.

    In addition to Hillary Scott, Lady Antebellum is comprised of Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood.

    Lady Antebellum is up for vocal group of the year at the ACM Awards.

    Fortunately no one on the tour bus was injured. A fire on a bus like this could have ended in serious injury–or worse.

    Fans can tune in to see the band at the ACM Awards as they air live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. ET.

  • Tim McGraw And Faith Hill Perform Duet At ACM Awards [Video]

    Last night was the big night for country music, and the ACM awards provided a variety of entertainment from multiple stages. One of the sweetest performances was arguably the one that took place between husband and wife Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

    Tim McGraw was nominated for four awards, and took home one win for Video Of The Year. He won the award for his song “Highway Don’t Care,” which was a duet with Taylor Swift. Mcgraw and Hill have been married for 17 years now, and after last night’s performance, it is evident that they are still going strong.

    Faith Hill was not nominated for any awards after having not released an album since 2008, when she released a holiday album called “Joy To The World.” She also has three kids with husband Tim McGraw, and may simply be taking off time from her career to raise their kids.

    She still has that voice that earned her 14 ACM Awards in the past though, and gave the audience an incredible duet with McGraw. Before the country music power couple of Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, there was Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and perhaps they are trying to prove that they have still got it in them after all their years in the business.

    Tim McGraw was not nominated for Entertainer Of The Year, which went to George Strait, who everyone was happy to see as the winner, but he did receive a nomination for Album Of The Year for his 2013 release “Two Lanes Of Freedom.”

    When Tim McGraw first took the stage, he was alone, but Faith Hill walked out mid-song, and surprised everyone with a touching romantic duet called “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s.” The song is set to appear on Mcgraw’s upcoming album titled “Sundown Heaven Town.”

    The country duo is set to perform next at Las Vegas’ Venetian Theater as part of their Soul2Soul residency, coming up this weekend. How many people caught Tim Mcgraw and Faith Hill’s touching duet last night?

    Image via Youtube

  • Miranda Lambert Triumphs at ACM Awards

    Country music star Miranda Lambert took home three trophies on Sunday at the 49th annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, and made history by taking the award for Best Female Vocalist for the fifth consecutive year.

    “I cannot believe this; I really didn’t expect it,” said Lambert upon accepting the Best Female Vocalist honor.

    She took the prize over fellow nominees Sheryl Crow, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

    “I was just hanging out with Trisha Yearwood back there — holy crap! And I was standing next to Sheryl Crow, a complete and utter rock star. Kacey Musgraves, she wrote the Single of the Year. Carrie Underwood’s my buddy; she’s a phenomenon,” Lambert said.

    The House That Built Me singer surpassed Reba McEntire, who won the Best Vocalist honor four years in a row, and seven in total.

    Lambert also took home the Record of the Year award for her song Mama’s Broken Heart, along with the Vocal Event of the Year prize for her duet with Keith Urban, We Were Us, which was handed out on the red carpet on Sunday before the ceremony began.

    Urban was the night’s top winner in numbers. He took home two awards for We Were Us, one as an artist and one as a producer of the song. He also took the prize for Video of the Year for Highway Don’t Care,” his collaboration with Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw.

    The night was filled with performances including sets from Urban, George Strait, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Tobias Keith, Jason Aldean, and Sheryl Crow.

    Aldean picked up the Male Vocalist of the Year award for the second year in a row, and Straight took home the night’s ultimate honor, Entertainer of the Year.

    Next year’s broadcast of the 50th anniversary of the ACM Awards will be broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

    Image via YouTube

  • Blake Shelton Sets Record For No.1 Singles On Billboard Country Airplay Chart

    He has quickly become one of the most popular and successful male country performers, and Blake Shelton recently set the record for No.1 singles on the Billboard airplay chart for country music.

    Blake Shelton is set to co-host the Academy Of Country Music awards along with Luke Bryan, which is set to air on Sunday, April 6th. He also has a big television gig as one of the coaches of The Voice, and his fellow star of the show, Shakira, will be joining him for a duet during the award show.

    Shakira recently released her single “Medicine,” which features Blake Shelton, and the song debuted at No. 57 on Billboard’s Country Airplay. It was the 35th time that Shelton had a song on the chart, but only the first for Shakira. The song is featured on Shakira’s self-titled album that was released on March 25th.

    This is the first time that Shakira has made an attempt at a country album, but has been around Shelton for the past few years, and may have soaked up some of his music style. Speaking on the new single, she said “When I wrote the song I didn’t know what direction to go in and I did like eight versions. Dance, pop…but I said no, this is a country song.”

    In order to break the record for most No.1 hits on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, he had his 11th single make it to the top, for his single “Doin’ What She Likes.” He was previously tied with Brad Paisley, who had 10 No.1 singles from 2005 to 2009.

    The Nielsen BDS-based Billboard Country Airplay chart was launched the week of January 20th, 1990. Following behind Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley are Zack Brown Band with seven, and Carrie Underwood and Toby Keith, who both have six.

    In addition to his co-hosting duties at this Sunday’s ACM Awards, Blake Shelton is nominated in five different categories including Male Vocalist Of The Year. For a full list of the nominations, check of the ACM Awards website. He is also nominated for Entertainer of The Year, along with his wife, Miranda Lambert, who also received a female vocalist nomination.

    After racking up 11 No.1 singles, he may have some momentum heading into the awards show. What awards will Blake Shelton end up getting?

    Image via Facebook

  • Carrie Underwood to Receive Special ACM Award

    Country music star Carrie Underwood will join Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith and Ronnie Milsap in receiving special ACM awards in September.

    Underwood will receive the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, honoring her “unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music.”

    The Career Achievement Award will go to singers Keith and Milsap, as well as Opry Entertainment Group President Steve Buchanan.

    Rascal Flatts will receive the Jim Reeves International Award, which honors an artist for “outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.”

    The quintet will receive their awards Sept. 9 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

    It’s been a busy year for the former American Idol winner. Her single Blown Away Medley! remains at No. 1 for another week on Top 20 Country Countdown.

    She was also named the 2013 top-earning American Idol alum by Forbes Magazine in January, amassing over $31 Million. That sum not only beat other Idol winners, but exceeded the annual earnings of last year’s judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj.

    Underwood and husband Mike Fisher — a professional hockey player — have had a difficult time arranging their schedules to spend time together, which has led to some speculation that their marriage may be on the rocks.

    However, Underwood and Fisher continue to do whatever they can to protect their marriage. “Mike is fuming,” said an inside source. “Carrie is thrilled about all the opportunities, but she’s very conflicted and confused. She and Mike are barely speaking.”

    “Between his schedule with the Nashville Predators and her rehearsals, they barely saw each other the last three months. When they did steal some alone time, Carrie was wiped out physically and emotionally. The ordeal left Mike feeling neglected and ignored.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ashton Kutcher Offends Country Music Community

    Ashton Kutcher is well-known for his silly personality; as the lovable, sex-crazed goofball Michael Kelso on “That ’70s show“, he won his way into the hearts of millions. He kept his fan base young and interested as the host and co-creator of MTV’s “Punk’d“, a reality prank show which switched things up by making celebrities the target. As one of the stars of “Dude, Where’s My Car”, he brought his brand of goofy comedy to the big screen, and even if the movie wasn’t exactly a box office smash, most of us are familiar with the jokes in it.

    That’s why, despite his attempts over the years to move into meatier acting roles (“The Butterfly Effect“, the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic), it’s hard to take anything he does seriously, especially since that little smirk seems to stay permanently implanted on his face.

    So when he showed up at the ACM awards over the weekend donning a ten-gallon hat and bedazzled jacket–and sang a bit of the George Strait song “I Cross My Heart” before presenting Miranda Lambert with her award–several people in the industry thought he was taking a snarky stab at them and the way they dress.

    Lambert tweeted her doubts as to Kutcher’s sincerity after the show:

    (image)@Miranda_Lambert
    Miranda Lambert    Was Ashton Kutcher making fun of country or is it just me? Watching it back now and I’m kinda wondering?(image) 1 day ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    To which Kutcher replied:

    (image)@aplusk
    ashton kutcher    @Miranda_Lambert I Am One Of The biggest country Music fans you’ve ever met. Wasn’t making fun at all.(image) 1 day ago via Mobile Web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    Kutcher has to admit…it’s hard for those of us who know him as “Tater Nuts” to believe he’s being sincere about anything.

  • ACM Awards 2012: Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, and…Carrot Top?

    This year’s American Country Music Awards, which were hosted by Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire last night in party-city Las Vegas, mixed country with rock, pop, R&B and a little bit of what the?

    Country music’s finest were out in sparkling dresses and ten-gallon hats, but they were joined by a random selection of stars from the worlds of rock, television, and even stage (comedy stage, that is). Shock-rockers KISS took the podium in full makeup to present the award of vocal group of the year to Lady Antelbellum, while Ashton Kutcher of “Two And A Half Men”–and rumored lead in an upcoming Steve Jobs biopic–awarded Miranda Lambert a statue for female vocalist of the year. Her husband Blake Shelton won male vocalist of the year, making the two of them sort of like prom king and queen.

    There were so many performances that the first award wasn’t even handed out until thirty minutes into the show, and they kept up throughout the night. Carrie Underwood kicked things off in a sexy little fringed dress with her song “Good Girl”, getting the audience warmed up for the night. Martina McBride and Train’s Pat Monahan teamed up to provide a soundtrack to the on-stage wedding of a New Jersey couple with the tune “Marry Me”. Steve Martin and Rascal Flatts paid a banjo-filled tribute to the late bluegrass great Earl Scruggs, who passed away last week.

    But perhaps the oddest–and what many would say was the most fun–performance came when Toby Keith made his way through the audience brandishing a red solo cup and singing–you guessed it–“Red Solo Cup”. He was joined by none other than prop comedian Carrot Top, a random pairing if ever I’ve seen one.

    Twitter users were happy, annoyed, and confused about the performance.

    (image)@BrigMur
    Bridget Murray    This went from the worst day to the best day, Carrot Top at CMA’s singing with Toby Keith… And you people said he didn’t have potential!(image) 8 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@ChuckProphet
    Chuck Prophet    Is that Carrot Top singing with Toby Keith? This is obscene! (And I think I like it). #RedSoloCup(image) 8 hours ago via web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@AiYahhHowie
    AiYahhHowie    Is that Carrot Top next to Toby Keith? Eeeeew http://t.co/qGmwuPhX @GetGlue #ACMs(image) 8 hours ago via GetGlue.com ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@impossibletrend
    Arielle Yuspeh    It seems like Toby Keith was drinking from that red solo cup. Ps, Carrot top? Weirdest performance ever. #ACM(image) 8 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry

    (image)@derekmballard
    Derek M Ballardwatching this country music award show. I really don’t get it. This is not for me. Carrot Top was just on here with Toby Keith & solo cups.(image) 9 hours ago via Mobile Web ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@polksalad
    Andrew Polk    Drank a lot this weekend, but pretty sure I just saw Carrot Top with Toby Keith on some awards show.(image) 11 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto