COUNTRY SHINES
Country music legend Reba McEntire returns to host the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards, airing live on Sunday.
Country artists hit the strip on Sunday, April 15, for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards, airing on CBS. Broadcast live from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, it’s a night of celebrating the best in country music, from veteran superstars to fresh, emerging talents.
Hosting the ceremony this year is country music legend Reba McEntire. The eponymous “Reba” star is no stranger to the hosting gig, having taken the reins a total of 14 times between 1985 and 2012. “I really enjoy hosting. It’s very exciting. I love live television,” the songstress told Entertainment Tonight.
Not only does McEntire have solid experience in the hosting seat, she is a record-holding award winner, having taken home 16 awards from the Academy of Country Music over the years — the most wins of any artist. She won her first ACM Award in 1984 for Female Vocalist of the Year, an award she is also nominated for this year, making it her 16th nomination in the category.
One achievement that is close to the multitalented star’s heart is her 1994 win for the ACM’s Entertainer of the Year. With a personal connection to the category, McEntire told Entertainment Tonight that she was “disappointed” about the lack of female nominees this year but remained hopeful, calling country music “very cyclical. The girls dominate or the boys dominate, so it’s coming around. I have faith.” Nominated in the category this year are Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban.
Her disappointment is understandable, particularly with this being a big year for breakthroughs for women in country music. Bebe Rexha, one of the performers of the night, made history in February when her hit with fellow performers Florida Georgia Line, “Meant to Be,” topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs for the 11th week in a row. Unseating Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” the tune became the longest-running No. 1 song by a lead female. Both tracks are crossover hits, with Swift’s song being the lead single from her 2012 album, “Red,” which at the time was her most pop-influenced record to date. Primarily a pop star herself, Rexha spoke to Billboard of her success on the country charts, saying “the beautiful thing about music is that it allows you to break boundaries.”
Along with Rexha and Florida Georgia Line, the impressive list of performers for this year’s event includes Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Urban, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Kenny Chesney and more. The ceremony welcomes not only country artists but some famous country fans as presenters for the night, including New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Nancy O’Dell of “Entertainment Tonight,” actress Rebecca Romijn (“X-Men,” 2000) and Olympic athlete Lindsey Vonn.
ACM Award-nominated artist Bentley put out a call to fans earlier this month, looking to make his performance special. The singer asked his fans on social media to send images of their personal female heroes for the chance to be part of his performance of “Woman, Amen,” and photos of these heroes will be displayed behind Bentley while he performs his hit during the show.
Bentley is not the only one dropping performance hints. McEntire revealed that she would be interested in performing with country icon Dolly Parton during the ceremony. There’s been no official word yet whether the host will be performing during the show with or without Parton, though she surely got fans excited at the prospect.
The New Female Vocalist category suggests that the nominees will be largely unknown to music fans, but there’s something familiar about nearly all of this year’s nominated artists. With the exception of “Every Little Thing” singer Carly Pearce, all of the category’s nominees have been contestants on singing competition shows. Lauren Alaina was runner-up in season 10 of “American Idol,” Danielle Bradbery became the then-youngest winner of “The Voice” in season 4, and “Lonely Call” singer RaeLynn made it to the quarter-finals of “The Voice” in 2012. That much talent makes for an exciting, tight race between nominees.