Luke Bryan and Eric Church are on the initial list of artists set to perform on next month’s Academy of Country Music Awards. The two are joined by Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw. The 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, co-hosted by Reba and Blake Shelton, will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, April 1st at 8p live ET/delayed PT on CBS.
Luke, who picked up the Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Artist of the Year awards in 2010, is also scheduled to perform “Runnin’ With the Night” during the ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends – In Concert taping April 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The special airs April 13th on CBS. Luke, who just released his latest Spring Break EP — Suntan City, is also hitting the airwaves with his latest single, “Drunk on You,” from his hit album, tailgates & tanlines. You can currently find him on the road with Jason Aldean on the My Kinda Party tour.
Eric, who won the Top New Solo Vocalist of the Year last year, is nominated this year for Album of the Year for 2011’s Chief and Video of the Year for “Homeboy.” He is flying up the charts with his latest single, “Springsteen,” which follows his previous No. 1 hit, “Drink in My Hand.” He’s currently headlining his first arena tour, Blood, Sweat & Beers.
The two are throwing another performance in the mix – they’re both headlining the ACM’s free concerts at the Fremont Street Experience, May 30th (Luke) & 31st (Eric).
AUDIO: Luke Bryan is excited about his ACM Awards performance.
Luke Bryan (ACM 2012 performance) OC: …Lionel show. :17
“We got the news of my ACM [Awards] performance, which was really, really rewarding and flattering news. To not have a nomination out there, and you know to get a performance slot, we were super-excited. And [we’re] certainly very excited to be a part of the Lionel [Richie] show.”
AUDIO: Eric Church took the long way to have the success he’s currently enjoying, and it certainly wasn’t easy, by any means…but he says he’d do it all over again!
Eric Church (worked hard) OC: …stayed hungry. :40
“It’s never been about awards and it’s not about money either, because I would have done it differently. There are ways, I understand, you can make easier money, you can put out safer songs. You can run songs up and down the chart. I just don’t think people are going to know who you are in 10 years doing it that way. So, it’s been a longer path. You know, when you make the decision to go play clubs and honky tonks for a whole 500-600 people, two-hour shows, 100 degrees in there…you’re workin’ at that and it’s a long hard road. Somebody asked me the other day, would I do it again? And the answer is always yes, absolutely. But, boy…it’s a tough road. It’s a hard road, you have to be younger. You have to really be hungry, and we stayed hungry.”
