Eric Church has been added to the list of performers for this year’s CMA Awards, where he leads with five nominations. He racks up a nod for Album of the Year for Chief, as well as nominations in the Male Vocalist, Single, Song and Video of the Year (for “Springsteen”) categories. Eric is joined by Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and The Band Perry, as well as previously announced performers Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson and Zac Brown Band.

The 46th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 1st at 8pm ET on ABC.

Nashville, TN (October 8, 2012) – EMI Records Nashville’s Eric Paslay will make his TV debut on Wednesday in the pilot episode of ABC’s Nashville (10pm ET/9pm CT).  The Texas native plays himself in a backstage scene at the Grand Ole Opry.

Also, featured in the opening scene of the pilot episode is Paslay’s #1 hit single “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” performed by the Eli Young Band and co-written with Will Hoge. “Even If It Breaks Your Heart is nominated for Song of the Year at the 46^th Annual CMA Awards which is Paslay’s first CMA nomination.  The song is one of three #1 singles that he has written in the last year including “Angel Eyes” performed by Love and Theft and “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” performed by Jake Owen. 

Paslay was also recently honored at the 42nd Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony for writing “Even If It Breaks My Heart” as one of “The 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written.

Paslay is currently in the studio working on his debut album on EMI Records Nashville.

Kelleigh Bannen made her debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry Friday night (October 5th), and the Nashvillian says she didn’t have time to really get all worked up about the performance. “It was actually pretty hectic beforehand, and I think that helped me, because I didn’t have time to get as nervous,” the “Sorry on the Rocks” singer explains. “It was like [snap] we got here, we did a [snap] quick interview, we had rehearsal and then it was five minutes until we were on.”

Following her performance of her debut single (“Sorry on the Rocks”) and “Be a Man,” Kelleigh felt relieved, but also very proud of the career milestone. “I felt relief, and then I felt so proud that I got that moment,” she says. “There are times you can feel an audience. You can hear them listening to you; you can feel them listening to you, and that is such an honor to have that audience that’s actually listening and paying attention to what you’re, like hanging on what you’re doing. So, the audience gave me a huge gift tonight by just listening.

Kelleigh’s debut single, “Sorry on the Rocks,” will be available for download on iTunes beginning October 22nd.

AUDIO: Kelleigh Bannen talks about her first performance on the Grand Ole Opry.

Kelleigh Bannen (1^st Opry performance) 1 OC: …for people. :33
“It was actually pretty hectic beforehand, and I think that helped me, because I didn’t have time to get as nervous. It was like [snap] we got here, we did a [snap] quick interview, we had rehearsal and then it was five minutes until we were on. And then, I think I was just thinking I wanted to live up to what the Opry stands for and it’s huge shoes to step into, I think, when you’re out in that circle. It’s not that you’re trying to fill them, you want to honor them by giving your best, since they’ve given you the honor to show up and play your music for people.”

AUDIO: Following her debut on the Grand Ole Opry, Kelleigh Bannen says she felt relief and pride after she finished her performance.

Kelleigh Bannen (1^st Opry performance) 2 OC: …just listening. :31
“It was amazing! I really thought I was gonna lose it, but I didn’t cry, which I thought I might cry. I think I was too nervous. I was too afraid to cry. I felt relief, and then I felt so proud that I got that moment. You know, there are times you can feel an audience. You can hear them listening to you; you can feel them listening to you, and that is such an honor to have that audience that’s actually listening and paying attention to what you’re, like hanging on what you’re doing. So, the audience gave me a huge gift tonight by just listening.”

In-between dates on the road, Alan Jackson likes to de-stress by climbing into one of his antique cars and taking a drive in the country. He has a very scenic route he usually drives down the Natchez Trace Parkway, located outside Nashville. “At certain times of the year, like up here in the fall when it’s really pretty and the temperatures kind of [falling], I get out just about every day that I can and take a little drive,” says Alan. “I’ll run an old car or something out in the country. That’s some of the [most] relaxing time[s] for me.”

He once told AOL’s The Boot the Chevrolet Corvette is the best car ever made. “They are still building them today, still selling them. It’s as fine a high performance sports car as any Ferrari out there. They don’t get the attention as those cars, but are just as well designed or better. They aren’t near that expensive and a lot of people can still buy them. I think that’s an American icon and will always be there.”

Alan, who is climbing the country charts with his latest single “You Go Your Way,” is scheduled to perform in Binghamton, New York October 18th. He’s got dates through early December, with a show at the Super Bull Americana Final in San Paulo, Brazil November 24th.

AUDIO: Alan Jackson says fall is the perfect time to take a drive.

AJ (driving) OC: …for me. :14
“At certain times of the year, like up here in the fall when it’s really pretty and the temperatures kind of [falling], I get out just about every day that I can and take a little drive. I’ll run an old car or something out in the country. That’s some of the relaxing time[s] for me.”

Eric Church kicks off a two-night stand at Chattanooga’s Tivoli Theatre on Monday (October 8th) and Tuesday (October 9th) to record his first-ever live album, which will arrive in early 2013. He will sure to have a full house on both nights, due to his extremely loyal fans, who he attributes to his success on the charts and his sold-out performances. “I think for me that’s been a big part of our career…having that fan base that’s young, that has a lot of passion and that shares, they’re viral, they share it with their friends,” says Eric. “They sit in dorm rooms and they play it, they tailgate in a parking lot, they play it at ball games. That’s really been a big catalyst to how we’ve gotten here.”

Eric is currently climbing the country charts with his latest single, “Creepin’.”

AUDIO: Eric Church talks about how his fans have shared his music, which has been the catalyst for his success.

Eric Church (fans will find music) OC: …mile of it. :23
“It’s just such a different world than it used to be where they can find the music, learn the music and I think for me that’s been a big part of our career…having that fan base that’s young, that has a lot of passion and that shares, they’re viral, they share it with their friends. They sit in dorm rooms and they play it, they tailgate in a parking lot, they play it at ball games. That’s really been a big catalyst to how we’ve gotten here, it’s taken longer. It’s a little longer path but I wouldn’t trade a mile for it.”

Little Big Town partnered with ConAgra Foods to support their nationwide Child Hunger Ends Here campaign. The band recently released the video of their performance of “Here’s Hope,” the song they performed earlier this year during the ACM Awards “Lifting Lives” segment.

“Here’s Hope” was written by Hunter Hayes, Luke Laird and Barry Dean.

Dierks Bentley takes you backstage to last week’s ACM Honors in Nashville, where he performed and served as host. Like all responsibilities, however, hosting did present some difficulties. Take a look at how Dierks made it through the special night…with a little help from his friend, Jack.

in this week’s Urban Chat video, Keith Urban and Ryan Seacrest are having fun hanging backstage at the American Idol auditions!

Go behind-the-scenes of Luke Bryan‘s new video, “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” in the latest episode of LBTV!

Going to back to Australia to wrap up the Own The Night 2012 World Tour with sold-out shows was an amazing experience for Lady Antebellum‘s Charles, Hillary and Dave. The sites, the venues and the fans were all too incredible for words! Check it all out in today’s Webisode Wednesday.