Reba McEntire Is Not Hosting Next Year's ACM Awards . . . Will Blake Shelton Go It Alone?

REBA MCENTIRE announced she is not going to host next year's ACM Awards. Reba and BLAKE SHELTON co-hosted the last two ACMs...and she's already anointed him as her successor.
Shetold "Country Weekly", quote, "I've passed the torch to Blake. I'm a huge Blake Shelton fan." Blake hasn't said anything about this yet . . . but he seems to have a plan. At least that's what the ACMs are saying. They released this statement, quote, "Reba has hosted the ACM Awards a record 14 times since 1986, and we fully understand and support her decision to focus her energies on her new television project.
 "We've known about this for a while and have something very special planned with Blake returning . . . he's got something big up his sleeve . . . that we’ll be announcing soon. Stay tuned!"

Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan Look Forward to Tonight's ACM Honors

Dierks Bentley steps into the role of emcee for tonight's ACM Honors at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.  He took the gig because some of his musical heroes, including Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and Dwight Yoakam are being recognized at the event. Says Dierks, "When I saw that, I was like, I'm in 'cause all of those people have had influences on me one way or the other." Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson and Vince Gill are among the other stars being recognized at the ACM Honors, so Dierks can count on a music industry-heavy audience."I don't know what I've gotten myself into, but we'll see," Dierks says with a laugh. "Hopefully I don't screw it up too bad." Don't expect Dierks to expand this hosting gig into other roles similar to Blake Shelton on The Voice or Keith Urban on American Idol though. Dierks was actually approached to compete on Dancing with the Stars a few years ago and turned it down. It isn't just his complete lack of dancing skills, Dierks simply doesn't have time to focus on anything but his music.
He says, "I love writing songs. I love being in a band and being on the road. I don't know where the time would come from. You'd have to create more time." Luke Bryan will perform at the ACM Honors with his pal Dallas Davidson, who is this year's ACM Songwriter of the Year. They've penned some of Luke's biggest hits together including "I Don't Want This Night to End," "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)" and "Rain Is a Good Thing." Luke says, "The history between he and I is just so deep. It’s amazing, I mean, that I can have the opportunity to honor him on that night and do some of our songs." Luke and Dallas have written a few new songs that Luke is putting on his next studio album too. Hunter Hayes, Kellie Pickler, Jana Kramer, Randy Houser, Love and Theft, Big Kenny and Clint Black are among the other stars participating in ACM Honors as either performers or presenters. Catch itt tonight at 7 on ABC!

Dierks Bentley to Host 6th Annual ACM Honors September 24.

Dierks Bentley has signed on to host the 6th Annual ACM Honors coming up September 24 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill and Dwight Yoakam are among the stars being honored at this year's event along with Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and the late Roger Miller. Tickets are priced at $37 and go on sale to the public through Ticketmaster on Friday, August 17... should you wish to attend. If, so...take me too!! :)

Are Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler Recording a Country Song Together?

Some big time AEROSMITH blogger with too much time on his hands claims STEVEN TYLER and CARRIE UNDERWOOD are recording a country duet together. Apparently it's a country ballad that Aerosmith recorded last summer. And Carrie laid down her vocals a few days ago to make it a duet. There's no word on the name of the song, but it's supposed to be on Aerosmith's next album, "Music From Another Dimension", which comes out August 28th.

I'm hoping this is true. We all remember Carrie and Steven tearing it up at the 2011 ACMs!

Will Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw's New Song "Feel Like a Rock Star" Debut at Number One?

This is the reason they have awards shows. "Feel Like a Rock Star", the new song KENNY CHESNEY and TIM MCGRAW unleashed on Sunday's ACMs is already the most played song on country radio. And it's selling like crazy too. Kenny's label made it available for download during the show and people started jumping on it immediately. According to "Billboard",if it keeps selling at the current pace, it could debut at #1. That would make it only the second song to debut at Number One in the 22-year history of the modern charts. GARTH BROOKS' single "More Than a Memory" debuted at #1 back in September of 2007. And even if the buzz cools off, Kenny's record label is convinced the song will debut in the top ten.

Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore Question Ashton Kutcher's Motivations at the ACM's

Miranda Lambert has been known to tweet her thoughts about awards shows while watching the replay on her DVR a few days later. She caused a little stir earlier this year taking issue with Chris Brown's two performances on the Grammy Awards, tweeting “I don’t get it. He beat on a girl…Not cool that we act like that didn’t happen.” Now, Miranda is not so sure about Ashton Kutcher’s motivations at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Kutcher wore a cowboy hat and western jacket, and sang part of the George Strait hit “I Cross My Heart,” leading to Miranda’s latest controversial tweet. “Was Ashton Kutcher making fun of country or is it just me? Watching it back now and I'm kinda wondering?” The female vocalist winner wasn’t the only one to wonder. Justin Moore offered that he “doesn’t care for people making a mockery of the way country artists dress” via Twitter. Ashton himself chimed in with the final word, tweeting “I Am One Of The biggest country Music fans you've ever met. Wasn't making fun at all.” The Two and a Half Men star added, “btw congratulations again.”

Blake Shelton Says Taylor Swift "Truly Deserved" the ACM Entertainer of the Year Award

If you know someone who is irritated that TAYLOR SWIFT picked up another Entertainer of the Year award, send them over to BLAKE SHELTON. He totally has her back and believes she's deserving of the trophy. That's what Blake was telling everyone backstage at the ACMs. He said, quote, "Taylor deserves it, she truly does. I don't think there's anybody with half a brain that would stand up here and say otherwise. "She's done a lot for us in country music, but take that out of the mix even and she's just one of those once in a lifetime stars that comes along that makes a difference and we're lucky enough in country music to call her one of us. "And that's pretty cool." Of course, it wouldn't be a Blake Shelton speech without some of his brilliant irreverence. He then added, "(But) I'm always gonna make fun of her in my monologues, so she might as well get used to that."

Taylor Swift's Date to the ACMs Was Hospitalized and Had to Cancel.

You may remember that TAYLOR SWIFT was planning to take high school cancer patient Kevin McGuire to last night's ACMs. Unfortunately, Kevin couldn't attend because he checked into the hospital with a 103-degree fever. On Saturday, Taylor Tweeted, quote, "Just talked to Kevin McGuire. He's not well enough to join me at the ACMs. Please keep him in your thoughts. I'll make it up to you, Kevin!" By the way, Taylor was doing it right too. She paid for his tuxedo and shoes, PLUS airline tickets and hotel accommodations for Kevin and his family. Hope and Prayer to Kevin for a speedy recovery!

Miranda Lambert Would Love to Add a Song of the Year Award to Her Trophy Case.

Country artists are always talking about wanting to win an ACM or CMA Entertainer of the Year award. And although I'm sure MIRANDA LAMBERT wouldn't turn one down . . . she thinks the Song of the Year award is just as special. She told Toledo, Ohio's "The Blade", quote, "I would love to have a song that I wrote by myself to win a Song of the Year. "There is just something special, something that makes you reach deep down into who you are as an artist, when you write a song all on your own. "I wrote 'Dear Diamond' and 'Safe' on 'Four the Record' on my own, and I am so proud of those songs." Obviously, Miranda has a few other things she's proud of too. Like when LORETTA LYNN singled her out as the artist that reminded her of herself. Miranda has a good idea why. She says, quote, "I think [Loretta] and I love and believe in the same kind of songwriting . . . authentic, no-holds-barred country songs. "I know I've always thought that she is one of the strongest women in music, and I hope I can set that kind of example as well. I would love to have a career like hers where I am still making music that I love well into my later years."

Fan Voting for ACM Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year Now Open!

Fan voting is now open for ACM Entertainer of the Year and ACM New Artist of the Year at VoteACM.com. Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swiftare up for Entertainer of the Year. Voting in that category will end during the third hour of the ACM Awards broadcast on CBS Sunday, April 1. Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes and Scotty McCreery are up for ACM New Artist of the Year; voting for that trophy will end on April 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET, just before the ACM broadcast starts. The three New Artist of the Year nominees will also be featured in the five-part original Web series, Road to the ACM Awards, at CBS.com/ACMs. A few artists have already started campaigning for your vote, including Taylor Swift. She released a video of herself showing her cat Meredith how to vote for ACM Entertainer of the Year online. Blake Shelton has also released a video asking for fans' votes with highlights from his current Well Lit and Amplified tour.

Toby On The Tube!

You've got plenty of chances to catch Toby Keith on TV in the coming weeks. Toby stops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Thursday followed by a Friday appearance on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He continues his media blitz with an interview on E!'s Chelsea Lately March 27. Also, catch Toby performing on the 47th Annual ACM Awards Sunday, April 1 on CBS.

More Stars Added to ACM Awards Performers Lineup...

The 47th Annual ACM Awards has added some more star power to the performer lineup. The show's co-host Blake Shelton will now sing on the CBS broadcast. Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Chris Young and The Band Perry have also lined up performance slots. They join previously announced performers Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw on the bill. Blake and Reba host the ACM Awards.

ACM Awards Nominations Announced This Morning!

The nominees for the 47th Annual ACM Awards will be announced this morning. ACM Awards co-host Reba will take part in the announcement along with a few other surprise guests at 9:30 a.m. ET at facebook.com/AcademyofCountryMusic and Twitter.com/ACMAwards.

Real-life country fans will also announce the nominees for the ACM's top prize, Entertainer of the Year. The Academy of Country Music will launch its newly-designed website at ACMCountry.com today as well. Videos of artists reacting to their nominations will be posted on the site throughout the day. Blake Shelton and Reba will co-host the 47th Annual ACM Awards, live from Las Vegas on CBS Sunday, April 1. The show is staying put on CBS for the long run. The ACM announced a deal this week that will keep its awards shows on the network through 2021. That agreement includes the ACM's annual two-hour special broadcasts as well. It will tape on April 2 and air at a later date.