Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

George Strait is gearing up to release his 40th studio album – titled Love is Everything – on May 14th. The Country Music Hall of Famer was planning on writing songs over the Christmas break for the new album, but it doesn’t necessarily mean every song he writes will make the cut. “I’ve always thought that whether I’m writing or not, I’ve got to pick the best songs,” says George. “I’m not gonna sing ‘em just because I wrote ‘em. I’ve got to find the best songs to make the best album I can make.”

George’s latest single, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” is the first release from his upcoming album, Love is Everything.

AUDIO: George Strait talks about picking the best songs he can find, no matter if he wrote them or not.

George Strait (picking best songs) OC: …can make. :11
“You know, I’ve always thought that whether I’m writing or not, I’ve got to pick the best songs. I’m not gonna sing ‘em just because I wrote ‘em. I’ve got to find the best songs to make the best album I can make.”

ENCINO, CA (March 18, 2013) – The Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions announced today that Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town are scheduled to perform as part of the 48^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. This is the second round of artists announced as performers on this year’s broadcast. The ceremony, which will be co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, honors country music’s top talent, as well as the industry’s hottest emerging artists. It is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

These artists join previously announced performers Luke Bryan, Kelly Clarkson, Hunter Hayes, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, George Strait and The Band Perry, as well as the 3^rd Annual ACM Fan Jam, headlined by Brad Paisley along with special guests Dierks Bentley, Hunter Hayes, and New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl’s nominees Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line. LL Cool J has also been tapped to make a special appearance during this year’s ACM Fan Jam, emcee’d by Storme Warren.

Eric Church leads with seven ACM award nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year and his second consecutive nod for Album of the Year and Video of the Year. He is twice nominated for Song of the Year for “Springsteen,” as both artist and composer. Church also earned nominations for Single of the Year for “Springsteen” and for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. His third album, “CHIEF,” reached Platinum and received several end-of-the-year “top album” accolades from NPR, Rolling Stone, SPIN, iTunes and the Los Angeles Times. Church is a three-time GRAMMY nominee including a nod for Best Country Album, and his second and third single releases, “Drink In My Hand” and “Springsteen,” reached #1 on the country radio charts. Church’s forthcoming live album release, “Caught In the Act: Live,” is currently available for pre-sale and will be released on April 9.

Lady Antebellum is an ACM award-winning trio comprised of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. The band recently received their fifth ACM Award nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, an award they have won for three consecutive years. The seven-time GRAMMY-winning trio’s current single, “Downtown” is the lead single off of their upcoming fourth Capitol Nashville release Golden, scheduled to come out May 7. The track hit big out of the gate, becoming the trio’s highest-charting debut on the Country radio charts.

Little Big Town leads ACM award group nominations with four nods, including their seventh nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. They are also nominated for Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year for “Pontoon” and Video of the Year for “Tornado.” The Grammy-winning country group, consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook, first entered the music scene over thirteen years ago, and their fifth studio album, Tornado, debuted at the top of the Billboard Country Chart where it stayed in the #1 position for five consecutive weeks. The album produced by Jay Joyce, includes two-time platinum-selling #1 hit single “Pontoon,” and follow-up single and title-track “Tornado,” which also peaked at the #1 position. The foursome has played in front of over 4 million people to-date and is currently headlining their Tornado Tour across the US and Canada. They will join Keith Urban on tour later this summer.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards
The 48^th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Allen Shapiro, Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers. Barry Adelman is producer, and Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

Luke Bryan debuted at the top of the Billboard Album Chart with his Spring Break…Here to Party album last week, marking his first time at the top of the overall chart. He took time from his Spring Break shows in Panama City to tape a video thanking you, the fans, for making it the number-one album! Check out the clip below!

Newcomer Drake White is getting ready to hit the airwaves with his debut single, “The Simple Life.” Check out the video below as the first introduction to this charasmatic performer.

Get a preview of the fun new video for Darius Rucker‘s single, “Wagon Wheel,” and download the single here: http://smarturl.it/nojubb

Kacey Musgraves has been in rehearsals at a Nashville sound stage this week gearing up to play stadiums, arenas and huge venues on Kenny Chesney’s No Shoes Nation Tour. The Texas native just wrapped up her opening stint on Little Big Town’s Tornado Tour a couple of weeks ago, which played to sold-out crowds. She’s now getting ready to embark on Kenny’s trek, which includes a handful of huge stadiums that house 70,000 people or more. So, we asked her if she is prepared to hit the stage on Saturday (March 16th) at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

“I don’t know if any amount of preparation could prepare me for getting out on stage in front of 70,000 people. I mean what human knows what to do with that at first? I don’t know,” says the “Merry Go Round” singer/songwriter. “I’m excited, though. That’s got to create a whole new level of energy that I’ve never been able to experience until now. I mean, taking what I do as a songwriter and figuring out how to apply that to such a massive scale is going to be a learning experience for me, but who better to learn from than such an entertainer, I mean, across all genres.”

Kacey is the only female on the road, since the other acts on the trek will include Eric Church, Zac Brown Band and the Eli Young Band.

Don’t forget to catch Kacey performing her Top 10 hit, “Merry Go Round” on NBC’s Today Show on Tuesday, March 19^th – the same day her new album, Same Trailer, Different Park

AUDIO: Kacey Musgraves just finished a run with Little Big Town a couple of weeks ago and is about to open up for Kenny Chesney on his No Shoes Nation Tour, which kicks off in Tampa on Saturday.

Kacey Musgraves (preparing for Chesney tour) OC: …hear me first. :55
“Oh my gosh. Well I don’t know if any amount of preparation could prepare me for getting out on stage in front of 70,000 people. I mean what human knows what to do with that at first? I don’t know. I’m excited, though. That’s got to create a whole new level of energy that I’ve never been able to experience until now. So yeah, I mean taking what I do as a songwriter and figuring out how to apply that to such a massive scale is going to be a learning experience for me, but who better to learn from than such an entertainer, I mean, across all genres. I don’t care if you listen to his music or not. There’s no denying the fact the he is an amazing entertainer on a grand scale. I’m just excited to be a part of something so big. I’m the only girl on the tour and I think that’s cool. So, I’m just excited. I hope his fans like it and are into it, and come early enough to get a little buzz going on and hear me first.”

Encino, CA (March 14, 2013) – The Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions announced today that Country Superstars Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum, along with International Music Sensation Pitbull have been added to the all-star lineup of artists scheduled to perform at the ACM PRESENTS: TIM McGRAW’S SUPERSTAR SUMMER NIGHT, taping Monday, April 8, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.  These artists join previously announced performers Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift and Ne-Yo. The special will be broadcast at a later date on the CBS Television Network. 

Fifteen-time ACM Award winner Tim McGraw is spotlighting the hottest music of the summer and calling on his friends to help kick off the 2013 touring season. ACM PRESENTS: TIM McGRAW’s SUPERSTAR SUMMER NIGHT will feature high-octane performances and musical collaborations in a two-hour, star-studded concert event to benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.

Dierks Bentley is an ACM Award-winning singer/songwriter who has forged his own brand of country music combining classic country songwriting, influences of bluegrass instrumentation and the energy of rock & roll. Bentley’s sixth studio album Home, released in 2012, debuted at #1 and has spawned three chart-toppings hits, marking 10 career #1 songs as a singer and songwriter. He is currently on the “Locked & Reloaded Tour” with longtime friend Miranda Lambert. On April 6, Bentley will headline the ACM Party for a Cause Festival, a two-day outdoor music festival during “The Week Vegas Goes Country®,” and on April 7, will perform at the ACM Fan Jam.

Keith Urban is a seven-time ACM Award winner, who has sold more than 15 million albums. This spring will bring the release of brand new music, his fourth annual All For The Hall benefit, a highly anticipated tour, which gets underway this July, and continued filming for American Idol.  He has celebrated 14 No. 1’s, including 28 Top 5 hits and has had five consecutive platinum or multi-platinum albums.  In 2010, he was given the Academy’s prestigious Jim Reeves International Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music worldwide.  

Lady Antebellum is an ACM award-winning trio comprised of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood. The band recently received their fourth ACM Award nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, an award they have won for three consecutive years.  Lady Antebellum’s current single, “Downtown” is the lead single off of their upcoming fourth Capitol Nashville release Golden, scheduled to come out May 7. The track hit big out of the gate, becoming the trio’s highest-charting debut on the Country radio charts.

Tickets for ACM PRESENTS: TIM McGRAW’s SUPERSTAR SUMMER NIGHT are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster, priced at $105, $155 and $205. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy, and an organization that McGraw was closely affiliated with during his last tour.

For more information, log onto www.ACMLiftingLives.org or www.ACMcountry.com or follow on Twitter at @ACMawards for more immediate updates.

About Tim McGraw
For 20 years, McGraw has been providing that kind of powerful connection with his audience. With Two Lanes of Freedom, his new album—and first release for Big Machine Records—the singer is covering his broadest emotional range yet, with a set of songs that looks forward and back, gets deep and gets loose, and reveals that even the biggest stars can continue to grow with consistency and maturity.

In his record-shattering career, McGraw has sold more than 40 million albums, and dominated the charts with 33 No. 1 singles. Since the release of his debut album in 1993, he has won three GRAMMYs, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, 12 Country Music Association Awards, and 10 American Music Awards, while simultaneously maintaining a parallel career as a successful actor in such films as “The Blind Side,” “Country Strong,” and “Friday Night Lights”—as well as hosting Saturday Night Live, a rare honor for a singer in any genre. McGraw has never been afraid of breaking new ground; over the years, he has collaborated with musicians from Nelly to Tony Bennett to Def Leppard and Ne-Yo.

About ACM PRESENTS: TIM McGRAW’s SUPERSTAR SUMMER NIGHT 
ACM PRESENTS: TIM McGRAW’s SUPERSTAR SUMMER NIGHT will feature high-octane performances and musical collaborations in a two hour star-studded concert event to benefit ACM Lifting Lives. The special will be produced for television by dick clark productions and will be taped at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Monday, April 8, 2013 at 7:30 PM PT, with the broadcast airdate to be announced at a later time on the CBS Television Network.  Allen Shapiro, Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers.  Barry Adelman is producer, and Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.