UNDATED (AP) – Craig Morgan and 3 Doors Down will each do their part in entertaining American troops overseas. Morgan will travel to southwest Asia in May to perform for U.S. military stationed there, while 3 Doors Down will go to Japan and Hawaii from June 28 through July 4 to do the same. They will travel as part of Armed Forces Entertainment, the official Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel overseas.

 

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The ACM Awards’ temporary move to North Texas for its 50th anniversary show was announced to the general public during Sunday night’s telecast (4/6). Long in the works, the move puts the show in the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington April 19, 2015. Luke Bryan andBlake Shelton return to co-host the CBS-TV telecast, while the two-day Party For A Cause will take place April 17-18 at Globe Life Park, the nearby home of the Texas Rangers. George Strait and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made the announcement. Tickets go onsale next Tuesday (4/15); more here.

 

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – The man who wrote “Dueling Banjos” has died. The Charlotte Observer reports Arthur Smith died Thursday at his home at the age of 93. Smith recorded a song called “Feudin’ Banjos” in 1955. The song was used in the film “Deliverance” but credited as “Dueling Banjos” and did not give any credit to Smith. He filed a lawsuit and got a substantial settlement. Smith also recorded an instrumental called “Guitar Boogie” that influenced many musicians including Tom Petty, Eric Clapton and Glen Campbell. Paul McCartney played “Guitar Boogie” as one of his first songs with The Quarrymen, who later became The Beatles.

 

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Darius Rucker got a reminder of his past when he took the floor to sing the national anthem at last night’s NCAA men’s basketball championship game. As he was being introduced, one fan at Cowboys Stadium shouted out “Hootie!” Before turning to country music, Rucker was the frontman for Hootie and the Blowfish. He has since released three country music albums.

 

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Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, the Eli Young Band and Rascal Flatts have been added to the performance lineup for Monday’s (4/7) ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute To The Troops taping in Las Vegas. Craig Morgan, retired Navy SEALMarcus Luttrell, Criminal Minds‘ Joe Mantegna, Entertainment Tonight‘sNancy O’Dell and The Talk‘s Sheryl Underwood will present. Performers previously announced include Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Merle Haggard, Hunter Hayes, Toby Keith, Kellie Pickler, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit ACM Lifting Lives. The show will air May 20 on CBS-TV. More here.

 

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LAS VEGAS (AP) – George Strait has staying power. He won the Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year last night, 25 years after he won it for the first time. Strait says he always said he has the best fans in the world and since fans voted for the award, he rests his case. Strait also won the Country Music Association Awards entertainer of the year in November. Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry says her grandfather used to tell them when the times were tough, “Kids, this ain’t no hill for a climber,” so she accepted the award for vocal group of the year for all the climbers. Miranda Lambert won female vocalist of the year for the fifth straight time. Jason Aldean won male vocalist. Justin Moore beat Kip Moore and Brett Eldredge for new artist of the year and joked he thought there might be a height requirement for that award.

 

Here are the winners in major categories at the Academy of Country Music awards:

Entertainer of the year: George Strait

Album of the year: Kacey Musgraves, “Same Trailer Different Park”

Female vocalist of the year: Miranda Lambert

Male vocalist of the year: Jason Aldean

Vocal group of the year: The Band Perry

Song of the year: “I Drive Your Truck”: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary

Single record of the year: Miranda Lambert, “Mama’s Broken Heart”

New artist of the year: Justin Moore

Vocal duo of the year: Florida Georgia Line

Music video of the year: Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, “Highway Don’t Care”

Vocal event of the year: Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, “We Were Us”

 

Merle Haggard was honored with the Crystal Milestone Award, which was presented by Garth Brooks and celebrated with a tribute performance featuring Miranda Lambert and George Strait.

 

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Lee Brice, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts and Dierks Bentley with Sheryl Crow have been added to the performance lineup for Sunday’s 49th Annual ACM Awards (4/6). Clay Walker, Trisha Yearwood, Guy Fieri, LL Cool J, Jewel, Olivia Munn, Nancy O’Dell and Chris O’Donnell are among presenters. The show airs live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on CBS-TV. More  here.

Among the ways fans can interact with this year’s show are: 

• Vote for Entertainer and New Artist here.
• Follow artist and ACM Social Media Correspondent Jamie Lynn Spears for real-time updates here.
• Get behind-the-scenes photos and video interviews on ACM’s Twitter and Instagram here and here.
• See 360-degree views of celebrities on the red carpet on Vine by following @ACMawards.
• Get real-time editorial coverage and photos during the show here.
• Download “Flat Blake” and “Flat Luke” and tweet selfies with them here.
• Get the ACM Awards App with schedules of events, custom camera filters, videos and other info for iOS here and Androidhere.
• ACM A-List email update members can get a free digital flipbook version of ACM Tempo by signing up here.
• See the fourth video in the Eric Church series San Destino Risinghere leading up to his performance.
• Follow more behind-the-scenes action with CBS-TV social media reporters, The Young and the Restless stars Josh Morrow andSteve Burton, here.

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Darius Rucker and Chris Daughtry will need to get their game voices on. They both will be part of the hoops hoopla surrounding the NCAA Final Four. Rucker will sing the national anthem before Monday night’s championship game. And Daughtry will perform before the Saturday’s games that will determine who will compete for the national men’s college basketball title.

 

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HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) – It was hard to believe the first time it happened. But now it’s happened again. A stuffed armadillo that’s an on-stage mascot for Willie Nelson has been swiped a second time. The most recent kidnapping of “Ol’ Dillo” happened after a show Monday night at a hotel near Las Vegas. Someone lifted the stuffed beast while Nelson did a meet-and-greet with audience members. The critter was returned the following day – after Nelson’s crew asked the hotel to check surveillance footage to help find the culprit. Ol’ Dillo was swiped after a show in New York State last fall. The armadillo was returned after that caper, too.

 

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