The Grand Ole Opry will officially release Backstage At The Grand Ole Opry March 15 as part of the show’s 40th anniversary celebration of its permanent home at the Grand Ole Opry House, but you can get a copy at select locations now. The book includes favorite backstage stories from Garth Brooks,Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and others, and more than 250 exclusive photos. Find it at The Opry Shop, Opry Originals at Third and Broadway in Nashville and the Nashville Airport, Gaylord Opryland Resort and here.

 

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Brett Eldredge, Justin Moore and Kip Moore are the final nominees for New Artist Of The Year at the 49th Annual ACM Awards. The fan-voted nominees came from a list of eight semifinalists, which also included Lee Brice, Tyler Farr, Kacey Musgraves, Thomas Rhett and Parmalee. The second round of voting starts March 24 here, with the winner announced at the awards show April 6 in Las Vegas on CBS-TV.

 

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Capitol’s Luke Bryan has been added to the 4th Annual ACM Fan Jam at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas April 6, concurrent with the 49th Annual ACM Awards. He joins previously announced Fan Jam hosts Florida Georgia Line for the concert, which will be featured during the awards telecast via remote. Bryan will also be hosting the awards show with Blake Shelton. More here.

 

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Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean will headline the inaugural Legends Day concert at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 24 as part of the Indianapolis 500 festivities. “Over the last several years we have continued to add reasons for our fans to visit the [speedway] the day before the Indianapolis 500 to celebrate our current drivers and the legends of the race as part of Legends Day,” says IMS President J. Douglas Boles. “Adding a concert featuring an outstanding entertainer like Jason Aldean is a fantastic way for fans to cap off a day of honoring our current and past drivers and get geared up for ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ that will take place the next day.” Tickets will go on sale Monday (2/17). More here.

 

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Charlie Daniels and Lipscomb University have partnered for the fifth annual Copperweld Charlie Daniels’ Scholarship For Heroes event March 25 at the university’s Allen Arena. Daniels, Kellie Pickler, Clint Black, The Grascals, the Navy Band Sea Chanters and the American Hitmen will perform. Daniels launched the benefit in 2010 to create awareness for the national Veterans Yellow Ribbon education program and to raise funds for veterans to attend Lipscomb University.

 

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BURBANK, Calif. (AP) – You might want to hold on to this bit of information – it might win you a bar bet or two. Who was the last musical guest on “The Tonight Show” when Jay Leno ended his 22-year run? It was Garth Brooks. Brooks performed two songs on the finale with Leno at the helm. Before his first song, Brooks praised Leno as a comedian, host – and friend to performers. He says he appreciated that Leno has had all kinds of acts on his show – and made sure country acts got plenty of exposure. Jimmy Fallon takes over the Tonight Show after the Olympics.

 

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Our sympathies are extended to Trace Adkins and family on the passing of his father Aaron Adkins Saturday (2/1).

 

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Miranda Lambert will join Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean for select baseball stadium dates on his Burn It Down Tour this summer. The revelation came in a recent Twitter exchange in which Aldean invited her to join his wiffle ball games at the venues. Lambert will appear at Aldean’s shows in Cleveland July 18, Cincinnati July 19 and Pittsburgh July 26. See the Twitter trade here.

 

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Clay Walker will return as host of Trophy Hunters TV on the Outdoor Channel for the 2014 season. Airing on Sundays, the show features Walker and trained hunters, including military veterans wounded in the line of duty. “I had such an amazing time hosting Trophy Hunters TV for the 2013 season so I was thrilled to be asked to return,” Walker says. More here.

 

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The Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event July 25-27 at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland has sold out. The 240,000 tickets were snapped up within 90 minutes of today’s on-sale, representing the first three-date sellout for an artist at the venue in a single day. “We’re thrilled,” says Brooks’ manager Bob Doyle. “Initially a two-date show, a third was added after the on-sale. Video from the BBC here; more on the show here.

 

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Nominees for the 49th Annual ACM Awards were revealed moments ago. Televised category nominees are:

Entertainer: Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Taylor Swift.

Male Vocalist: Jason Aldean, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban.

Female Vocalist: Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood.

Vocal Duo: Big & Rich, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Love and Theft, Thompson Square.

Vocal Group: Eli Young Band, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, The Band Perry, Zac Brown Band.

Album: Based On A True Story…, Blake Shelton; Crash My Party, Luke Bryan; Here’s To The Good Times, Florida Georgia Line; Same Trailer Different Park, Kacey Musgraves; Two Lanes Of Freedom, Tim McGraw.

Single: “Cruise,” Florida Georgia Line; “Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw f/Taylor Swift & Keith Urban; “I Drive Your Truck,” Lee Brice; “Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert; “Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker f/Lady Antebellum.

Song: “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain),” Gary Allan; “I Drive Your Truck,” Lee Brice; “Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert; “Mine Would Be You,” Blake Shelton; “Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker f/Lady Antebellum.

Video: “Better Dig Two,” The Band Perry; “Blowin’ Smoke,” Kacey Musgraves; “Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw f/Taylor Swift & Keith Urban; “I Drive Your Truck,” Lee Brice; “Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert; “Two Black Cadillacs,” Carrie Underwood.

Vocal Event: “Boys ‘Round Here,” Blake Shelton f/Pistol Annies & Friends; “Cruise (Remix),” Florida Georgia Line f/Nelly; “Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw f/Taylor Swift & Keith Urban; “Wagon Wheel,”Darius Rucker f/Lady Antebellum; “We Were Us,” Keith Urban & Miranda Lambert.

 

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