AUDIO: Alan Jackson talks about the meaning of Christmas and getting together with family over the holidays.

AJ (meaning of Christmas) OC: …lovely Christmas. :21
“Always try to remember Jesus’ birthday, and just the whole thing and have a wonderful big meal, almost like Thanksgiving four weeks later. We have the same, pretty much, turkey, dressing, all the same kind of things. Sometimes we have family members in Tennessee and sometimes just us or friends. We always go home to Georgia prior to that, so pretty standard, lovely Christmas.

AUDIO: Even though his three daughters are growing up, Alan Jackson and his wife, Denise, stick to their Christmas traditions to this day.

AJ (Christmas traditions) OC: …and everything. :30
“Christmas is pretty traditional. We don’t let anybody open any presents until Christmas morning, after Santa Claus comes. We don’t let them get up on their own and take off, you know, everybody has to wait and kind of get situated, and maybe have a cup of coffee, and then we start all of the regular Christmas morning activities, opening presents, taking pictures and video. We have music going, you know, I try to keep Christmas music going in the background. I like to turn that on before I let them come down to the tree and everything.”

Luke Bryan sends a message to his fans to thank them for making him one of CMT’s Artists of the Year. Check back on Thursday (December 13th) to get all the behind-the-scenes action of the show.

Luke Bryan goes into Monday night’s (December 10th) ACA Awards as the leader with seven nominations, including the overall Artist of the Year. Lady A and Zac Brown Band are tied with six each.

Performers include Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Kip Moore, Jason Aldean and Rascal Flatts, as well as show hosts Trace Adkins and Kristen Chenoweth. The two-hour special also will feature appearances by Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Miranda Lambert, Natasha Bedingfield, Ron White, Casey James, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch and Chris Young, among others.

Keith Urban will also perform with a group of young musicians from the Grammy Foundation’s Grammy Camp, to help highlight the need to support music education for young people through this performance. To further that end, the American Country Awards will present $25,000 to the Grammy Foundation’s Grammy in the Schools programs.

Here is the entire list of NOMINEES:

Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Eric Church
Toby Keith

Artist of the Year: Female
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Artist of the Year: Group
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Lee Brice
Colt Ford
Gloriana
Justin Moore
Jake Owen

Artist of the Year: New Artist
Lauren Alaina
Hunter Hayes
Jana Kramer
Kip Moore
Pistol Annies

Album of the Year
Dierks Bentley, “Home”
Luke Bryan, “tailgates & tanlines”
Eric Church, “Chief”
Lady Antebellum, “Own the Night”
Blake Shelton, “Red River Blue”

Single of the Year
Jason Aldean, “Tattoos On This Town”
Luke Bryan, “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
Eric Church, “Drink In My Hand”
Chris Young, “You”
Zac Brown Band, “Keep Me In Mind”

Single of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean, “Tattoos On This Town”
Luke Bryan, “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
Kenny Chesney, “Reality”
Eric Church, “Drink In My Hand”
Chris Young, “You”

Single of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”
Miranda Lambert, “Over You”
Martina McBride, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
Taylor Swift, “Ours”
Carrie Underwood, “Good Girl”

Single of the Year: Group
Eli Young Band, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”
Lady Antebellum, “We Owned The Night”
Rascal Flatts, “Banjo”
The Band Perry, “All Your Life”
Zac Brown Band, “Keep Me In Mind”

Single of the Year: New Artist
Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
Jana Kramer, “Why Ya Wanna”
Dustin Lynch, “Cowboys and Angels”
Kip Moore, “Somethin’ ’Bout A Truck”
The Farm, “Home Sweet Home”

Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Lee Brice, “A Woman Like You”
Brantley Gilbert, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”
Gloriana, “(Kissed You) Good Night”
David Nail, “Let It Rain”
Jake Owen, “Alone With You”

Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Kix Brooks featuring Joe Walsh, “New To This Town”
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, “Feel Like A Rock Star”
Brad Paisley featuring Carrie Underwood, “Remind Me”
Rascal Flatts featuring Natasha Bedingfield, “Easy”
Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett, “Knee Deep”

Touring Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw
Eric Church
Toby Keith
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band

Music Video of the Year
Luke Bryan, “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
Jake Owen, “Alone With You”
Blake Shelton, “God Gave Me You”
Keith Urban, “For You”
Chris Young, “You”

Music Video of the Year: Male
Luke Bryan, “I Don’t Want This Night to End”
Jake Owen, “Alone With You”
Blake Shelton, “God Gave Me You”
Keith Urban, “For You”
Chris Young, “You”

Music Video of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”
Miranda Lambert, “Over You”
Martina McBride, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
Taylor Swift, “Ours”
Carrie Underwood, “Good Girl”

Music Video of the Year: Group or Collaboration
Gloriana, “(Kissed You) Good Night”
Lady Antebellum, “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”
Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
Love and Theft, “Angel Eyes”
The Band Perry, “All Your Life”

Music Video of the Year: New Artist
Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
Casey James, “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night”
Jana Kramer, “Why You Wanna”
Dustin Lynch, “Cowboys and Angels”
Kip Moore, “Somethin’ ’Bout A Truck”

Song of the Year:
Trace Adkins, “Just Fishin’” (Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell and Ed Hill)
Jason Aldean, “Fly Over States,” (Michael Dulaney and Neil Thrasher)
Jason Aldean, “Tattoos On This Town” (Michael Dulaney, Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher)
Lee Brice, “A Woman Like You” (Phil Barton, Johnny Bulford and Jon Stone)
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, “You And Tequila” (Matraca Berg and Deana Carter)
Eric Church, “Springsteen” (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell)
Ronnie Dunn, “Cost of Livin’” (Phillip Coleman and Ronnie Dunn)
Eli Young Band, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Will Hoge and Eric Paslay)
Toby Keith, “Red Solo Cup” (Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers, Brad Warren and Brett Warren)
Tim McGraw, “Better Than I Used to Be” (Ashley Gorley and Bryan Simpson)

AUDIO: Keith Urban explains what he will be doing on the ACA Awards 2012 on Monday night (December 10th).

Keith Urban (ACAs 2012) OC: …all about. :22
“We did a show a few years back and brought some of the Grammy kids who do the Grammy camp to sing with us, and we had such a good time with ‘em, I thought we’d do it again on the ACAs. So, they’re going to be giving, I think, about 25,000-dollars to the Grammy Foundation, which I’m involved in, so it was sort of a perfect opportunity to bring them onstage and let ‘em play, because that’s what it’s all about.”

AUDIO: Luke Bryan, who leads the list of ACA nominees with 7, talks about his success over the past year.

Luke Bryan (success 2012) OC: …to do,’ you know? :41
“It’s really, really amazing to be where I’m at. I feel very blessed in that. I’m just thankful that the music has made that happen and the fans have made that happen and people coming out to live shows have made it happen. So, my main thing is to never get too caught up in what you are and what you’re not. I think just trying to stay the same and continue to give music that people are wanting that’s new and fresh, but also it’s something they can count on. I mean, you never want to refer to yourself in the third person, but you want people to know what a Luke Bryan song is gonna be when they hear it, and go, ‘Man, that sounds like something he ought to do,’ you know?” 

AUDIO: Kip Moore talks about performing AND having a handful of nominations at this year’s ACA Awards.

Kip Moore (ACAs) 1 OC: …dreams, kind of. :37
“It’s come so out of the blue for me. I didn’t expect to be up for anything, and then when it’s fan-voted it means even more to me. I have never gotten to play an award show, and I’ve never been up for any nominations, and it’s kinda happened both at the same time. It means a lot.  When you’re in a room with all your peers that all do the same thing, and then have a chance to be up for something and have some kind of validation in what you’re doing and all the sacrifice that you put into this job. Unlike other jobs, you can put 10 years into this and have nothing to show for it, in the end. So, to be up for awards and to be selling records and to have a number-one record, it’s all beyond my wildest dreams, kind of.”

AUDIO: Kip Moore admits he may be a little nervous before hitting the stage for Monday night’s ACA Awards.

Kip Moore (ACAs) 2 OC: …away then. :17
“I really don’t get nervous when I perform. I get excited. This show might make me a little nervous, but I’ll calm [down] pretty quick. I think I’ll be okay once I step on stage. I’ll be nervous up until I get on stage, and then I’ll be fine. It usually goes away then.”

Eric Church is taking part in the CMT’s Artists of the Year television special, airing Saturday night (December 8th) at 10pm ET. Eric, who performed his hit “Homeboy” during the special, says he really enjoyed all of the performances. ““The thing I enjoyed about the show, I really did, was the performances. I thought everybody did a different take on stuff. I loved what Carrie [Underwood] did. I thought Miranda [Lambert] had a really cool version of ‘Over You’ with the cello and the acoustic guitar. I thought it was great,” says Eric. “It was really cool to see guys that have worked very hard this year being one of the top artists, and it made me feel good about the music too. I think the future of what’s happening musically is good, and I’m excited to see where we go.”

While the honorees are being kept secret, several other artists will appear during the show, which was taped on Monday (December 3rd), including Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Merle Haggard, Kacey Musgraves, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson and many more.

Eric is currently closing in on the Top 5 of the country charts with his single, “Homeboy.”

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about his performance of “Homeboy” during the CMT Artists of the Year show.

Eric Church (CMT AOY) 1 OC: …it went. :36
“I’ve always wanted to do it kind of like it was recorded. We had the strings and the glissandi harp and all these little interesting orchestral things that were going on in the song; string quartet things. And I’ve always just heard a choir on it, you know, I’ve always heard that. We talked about recording it that way. We didn’t, but we talked about it. I really wanted to go out and just be me, acoustic guitar, orchestra, choir, that’s it, and we decided to do the whole band thing just to kick it up and give a little bit of a resemblance of what the song is. I’m happy with it. I haven’t had a chance to see it or anything, but I remember as the song ended, I felt good about it. So, I hope it went as good as I think it went.”

Eric Church (CMT AOY) 2 OC: …where we go. :24
“The thing I enjoyed about the show, I really did, was the performances. I thought everybody did a different take on stuff. I loved what Carrie [Underwood] did. I thought Miranda had a really cool version of ‘Over You’ with the cello and the acoustic guitar. I thought it was great. It was really cool to see guys that have worked very hard this year being one of the top artists, and it made me feel good about the music too. I think the future of what’s happening musically is good, and I’m excited to see where we go.”

FROM PEOPLE.COM:

First comes the sound of wedding bells, and next comes the baby rattle.

Lady Antebellum‘s Hillary Scott and drummer Chris Tyrrell, who became engaged on Independence Day in 2011 and married Jan. 7 in upstate New York, are now expecting a child.

“Chris & I are excited to announce that our Christmas gift has arrived a little early this year! We are having a BABY!” she wrote on Twitter Friday. “We feel so blessed!!!”

“Everything is brighter. Everything has a deeper meaning,” Scott, 26, previously said of her new husband. “He makes me feel more comfortable in my own skin.”

Scott has certainly had kids on the brain: On Monday, the band announced they are starting a new charity called LadyAID, which will focus on children’s hospitals and as well as other charitable causes.

Scott and Tyrrell met while they were in college, though things didn’t turn romantic until later. Lady Antebellum’s song, “Just A Kiss,” was inspired by Scott and Tyrrell’s relationship when they first began dating.

“MY CAUSE” WEB FEATURE FOR DECEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

LADY ANTEBELLUM AND “LadyAID™”

* * *

 WEB FEATURE AVAILABLE ON ACMLIFTINGLIVES.ORG STARTING TODAY

Tweet: December’s @ACMawards Lifting Lives’ MyCause is @LadyAntebellum & their charity “LadyAID™” – Watch the video below.

 [[1]]

Encino, CA (December 7, 2012) – ACM Lifting Lives® announced today that the December “My Cause” web feature will spotlight Lady Antebellum and their charity organization, LadyAID™. The web feature drives awareness of artist-supported charitable organizations and supports fundraising efforts for those philanthropies.

My Cause is a way for ACM Lifting Lives to tangibly demonstrate the Academy’s support of country music artists. Many people have been helped by these fantastic charities, and ACM Lifting Lives bolsters that support by increasing awareness and funding for these very deserving causes. Over the past two years, ACM Lifting Lives has donated more than $45,000.00 to artists’ favorite charities through this program, and will again make donations in addition to driving fan awareness.

This month, “My Cause: LadyAID” highlights an organization started by Lady Antebellum to bring awareness to and generate support for children in need on a local, national and a global level. The multi-level campaign will reach children across the state of Tennessee through grants to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. On a national level, LadyAID is supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and on a global level, myLIFEspeaks and The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The LadyAID™ Fund is a component fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Donations can be made to the charity by visiting www.ladyaid.org.

Click here to watch the December “My Cause” video and donate to this cause.

About ACM Lifting Lives

ACM Lifting Lives® is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. Each year, ACM Lifting Lives provides grants to music therapy and music education programs. Other giving includes serving members of the country music community who face unexpected medical or financial hardship through the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund and partnering with artists to improve lives through music. For more information, please visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KEITH URBAN TO PERFORM WITH YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM THE GRAMMY FOUNDATION^®’S GRAMMY CAMP^® ON “AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS”

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, ON FOX 

Hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth Also Set to Perform 

Country music superstar Keith Urban is set to perform with seven young musicians who have participated in the GRAMMY Foundation^®’s GRAMMY Camp^® music program on the AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS, airing live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Monday, Dec. 10 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The performance is intended to highlight the need to support music-based initiatives that attract young people to music and encourage their musical pursuits. As part of the campaign, a $25,000 donation will be made to support the GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY in the Schools programs, including scholarship support for GRAMMY Camp.

Through the years, Urban’s commitment to music programs has been consistent and unwavering. He’s been an active participant in the efforts of The Grammy Foundation’s Grammy Camp and Nashville’s Music Makes Us program and has encouraged aspiring musicians by giving them the opportunity to perform. His annual We’re All For The Hall concerts have raised nearly $1.5 million for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which supports numerous music-based initiatives, and just recently he participated in the Hall’s first All Access music program. 

Additionally, hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth each will be added to the list of performers for AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS.

The two-hour, star-studded special also will feature appearances by Eli Young Band, Lindsey Buckingham, Carmen Electra, Florida Georgia Line, Gloriana, Love and Theft, Penn & Teller and the San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Belt and Barry Zito. Previously announced participants include Natasha Bedingfield, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, champion cowboy Trevor Brazile, Casey James, Miranda Lambert, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Ron White and Chris Young.

The two-hour live music spectacular offers country music fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories, but also in a previously unrecognized area – touring – encompassing the entire spectrum of country music.

In 2001, the Country Music Association honored Keith Urban with its Horizon Award, designating him a talented artist with a bright future. He is the first Horizon Award winner in history to go on to win the CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year, a title he’s captured three times, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year. More than 15 million albums later, Urban is a four-time Grammy Award winner, who has also won a People’s Choice and American Music Award.  He’s won five Academy of Country Music Awards and had 14 No. 1 songs, including 28 Top 5 hits. In 2012, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. His latest CD, “Get Closer,” comes on the heels of his fifth consecutive platinum or multi-platinum release. It has produced three consecutive No. 1 singles: “You Gonna Fly,” “Long Hot Summer” and “Without You.”

In 2009, Urban was named radio’s most-played country artist, thanks to No. 1 hits such as “Sweet Thing,” “You’ll Think Of Me,” “Only You Can Love Me This Way,” “Better Life” and “Days Go By.” In addition, his 2002 smash, “Somebody Like You,” was named the No. 1 Country Song of the Decade by Nielsen BDS (based on radio airplay and audience impressions).

But Urban’s reputation as an elite songwriter, musician, vocalist and virtuoso guitarist is no more evident than when he is onstage. His electrifying concerts have played to sold-out venues in Australia, Germany, England, Canada and the United States, all while receiving high praise from critics. In fact, 2009’s Escape Together World Tour, as well as 2007’s Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy World Tour, were both, according to Pollstar, one of the top-grossing tours for their respective years. Last year, his Get Closer 2011 World Tour solidified Urban as one of the music industry’s best live performers.

About the GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY Camp^®

The GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY Camp offers selected high school students an interactive residential summer music experience. Focusing on all aspects of commercial music, this unique opportunity provides instruction by industry professionals in an immersive creative environment with cutting-edge technology in professional facilities. The program offers seven music career tracks: Audio Engineering; Concert Promotion/Production; Electronic Music Production; Marketing & Management; Music Journalism; Songwriting and a Performance Track for Bass, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Vocal and Winds & Strings. All tracks culminate in media projects, recordings and/or showcase performances. The GRAMMY Camp application deadline is March 31, 2013. In the past, approximately 75 percent of GRAMMY Camp participants who have applied for financial aid received assistance. Applications are online now at www.GRAMMYintheSchools.com^®.

About the GRAMMY Foundation

The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy^®, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyintheschools.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like “GRAMMY in the Schools” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/grammyintheschools and follow us on Twitter @GRAMMYFdn.

Jennifer Nettles (of Sugarland) and husband Justin Miller are proud to announce the birth of their son, Magnus Hamilton Miller, who was born on December 6th, 2012. “We are so thankful for all the prayers and support and are excited to take some time together as a new family,” says Jennifer.

Luke Brryan performed his number-one hit, “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” on the Grammy Nominations Live TV special earlier this week. Go backstage and into rehearsals.

Eric Church has had an amazing year, with his first two No. 1 singles (“Drink in My Hand” and “Springsteen”), his first headlining arena tour (Blood, Sweat & Beers) and his first CMA Award (for Album of the Year for Chief) and his two recent Grammy nominations. Prior to all of these amazing things, he also worked long and hard on his third album, Chief, in which he gave it all he had, so he’s about to take some time off. First up is the Christmas holiday, which he’ll spend with his family in North Carolina. “Then we’re gonna try to get away as just a family, just the three of us and try and go have some time after that,” says Eric. He’s also preparing for his tour north of the border, followed by a handful of dates on Kenny Chesney’s stadium tour, No Shoes Nation.

Eric Church is currently closing in on the Top 5 on the country charts with his latest single, “Creepin’.”

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about his plans for the next few months, including those for Christmas.

Eric Church (Christmas plans) OC: …year is off. :37
“We’re going back to North Carolina for a week or so, spend some time with my family. Then we’re gonna try to get away as just a family, just the three of us and try and go have some time after that. Then we have a little bit of time, we have the rest of the month of January before we do a Canadian tour, which I’m excited. I think all those shows are gonna be sold out, it looks like most of them are and to be able to go to another country and have that happen, is just really a special thing for me. So, I’m looking forward to that. It’s gonna be cold. It’s gonna be February in Canada. I get it. It’s gonna be snowy, but we’re gonna go do that. And after that, it’s just [Kenny] Chesney and the rest of the year is off.”