Additional Performers Announced for the 51st ACM Awards

The Academy of Country Music® and dick clark productions announced multiple nominated artists Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and Sam Hunt will perform on the 51ST ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, Country Music’s Party of the Year®.

The ceremony, co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV on Sunday, April 3rd at 8:00PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

This year, Eric Church is nominated for six ACM Awards and Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley and Sam Hunt each received two nominations. These artists join previously announced performers including Cam, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Florida Georgia Line. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events, visit acmcountry.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at @ACMawards for more immediate updates.

Brian Collins Releases New Single “Healing Highway”

Hot off the heels of his top 10 MusicRow Country Breakout Chart topper, Brian Collins releases new single “Healing Highway”, the title track from his forthcoming album.

Co-written by Collins, Kenny Greenberg and Tim Buppert (Rodney Atkins, Trisha Yearwood, Billy Ray Cyrus) and co-produced by Collins, Mills Logan (Luke Byran, Toby Keith, Cole Swindell, Rascal Flatts) and Greenberg (Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Eli Young Band, etc…), the driving track highlights Collin’s soulful vocals and prolific songwriting. Zac Brown Band’s Daniel de los Reyes is also featured on percussion on the single. “Healing Highway” is now impacting country radio and available on iTunes HERE.

Alongside the exclusive reveal of the lyric video with Taste of Country, Collins stated, “‘Healing Highway’ is not just the title track of my album, it’s a state of mind that embodies a whole sonic journey from beginning to end,” he says. “As the son of two truck driving parents the road has always been my second home. It gives and it takes but it’s mostly what you make of it. There will be hazards, forks and detours along the way but it’s all a part of finding your healing highway.”

Proving to be one of Country music’s most sought after emerging acts, Collins claimed the title of highest independent charting artist on the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart with his uplifting sophomore single “Shine A Little Love” reaching No. 9. The acclaimed tune also reached No. 43 on Country Aircheck Activator and No. 34 on the Billboard Indicator Chart.

Collins just kicked off a four month, nationwide tour in support of his new single. To view upcoming tour dates and more information, visit www.BrianCollinsMusic.com.

CMR Exclusive: Catching Up with Ryan Kinder

Warner Music Nashville recording artist Ryan Kinder has introduced his new single, “Tonight,” to country radio.  The country newcomer recently wrapped up touring with Jennifer Nettles on the Playing with Fire Tour and is gearing up for a busy year ahead.

In an exclusive interview in Nashville during Country Radio Seminar, Kinder shared with us details about his new single, touring and much more. Check out our exclusive interview here, or watch below.

Pick up Ryan Kinder’s new single “Tonight” on iTunes here, and be sure to request at your local country radio station.

Keep up with Ryan Kinder by visiting his Official Website, Like him on Facebook and Follow him Twitter and Instagram.

Granger Smith To Embark on Pledge of Allegiance Tour

Chart-topping country artist, Granger Smith, announced today that he will embark on a rigorous, 2-day tour to further acknowledge his love for our country. Coinciding with the upcoming release of his new album, Remington (March 4 via Wheelhouse Records), the campaign, “Granger Across Merica Pledge of Allegiance Tour Powered by Yee Yee Energy,” will allow Granger to visit and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at each stop at all 13 original colonies plus Washington, DC on March 6 and 7, 2016. Visit geni.us/pledgeofallegiancetour for more details.

“I’ve always felt compelled to voice my love of this country,” said Granger. ” My granddad and so many countless others have fought for our freedom. That freedom allows us as Americans to pursue our dreams and I am proof they can come true. I feel blessed to have a platform that may inspire others to remember what this nation was founded on. I hope folks will join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance as a symbol of our thanks for those who defend our God-given rights.”

Immensely patriotic, Granger has always strongly supported our U.S. military men and women. He personally founded the 100-Mile Boot Walk to raise awareness surrounding the challenges and needs our troops face upon returning home and has benefitted the 501c3, Boot Campaign. He has also performed several shows overseas for our troops. Granger’s popular country boy alter-ego, Earl Dibbles Jr., is also extremely vocal about the cause and is well-known for his love of “Merica.” Earl Dibbles Jr. even pays homage to our great nation with his brand new song, “Merica,” featured on the new album. View the music video for “Merica” HERE.

“Granger Across Merica Pledge of Allegiance Tour Powered by Yee Yee Energy,” is built into Granger’s album release week activities, which also include appearances on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, AOL Build, KTLA and more. Most recently, Granger celebrated his first national No. 1 with “Backroad Song.”

“GRANGER ACROSS MERICA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TOUR POWERED BY YEE YEE ENERGY” TOUR SCHEDULE:
DAY ONE – Sunday, March 6
7:00-7:30am – Atlanta, GA (Georgia State Capitol)
9:20-9:50am – Greenville, SC (Liberty Bridge)
11:15-11:45am – Charlotte, NC (Bank of AMERICA Stadium)
1:40-2:10pm – Norfolk, VA (Norfolk Naval Shipyard)
4:15-4:45pm – Washington, DC (Washington Monument)
5:45-6:15pm – Baltimore, MD (Baltimore City Hall)
8:00-8:30pm – Wilmington, DE (TBD)
DAY TWO – Monday, March 7
7:15-7:45am – Philadelphia, PA (Liberty Bell)
10:00-10:30am – Hartford, CT (Hartford State Capitol Building)
12:00-12:30pm – Providence, RI (Dominion Energy Manchester Street Station)
2:30-3:00pm – Boston, MA (USS Constitution/Old Ironsides Ship)
4:30-5:00pm – Portsmouth, NH (North Church at Town Square)
7:00-7:30pm – East Rutheford, NJ (MetLife Stadium)
8:15-8:45pm – New York, NY (Battery Park)

For full schedule, which includes all addresses, please visit: geni.us/pledgeofallegiancetour

CMT Reveals Superstar Pairings For Four New Episodes of CMT Crossroads

CMT today announced it has recruited some of music’s biggest stars to join forces for four new explosive episodes of  “CMT Crossroads,” the network’s highly-acclaimed and longest-running music franchise.

The new episodes kick off with Cheap Trick and Jennifer Nettles on March 24 at 11pm ET. Additional episodes premiering throughout the summer include Jason Derulo/Luke Bryan, Rob Thomas/Charles Kelley and Nick Jonas/Thomas Rhett.

With a catalog of hits spanning decades, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2016 inductees Cheap Trick and Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jennifer Nettles, who is headlining the CMT Next Women of Country Tour, will collaborate for the first time with “CMT Crossroads” premiering  on Thursday, March 24 at 11 pm ET/PT.

Multi Grammy-winning singers and songwriters Rob Thomas and Charles Kelley will come together for an unforgettable episode featuring soulful lyrics and harmonies.  Though both men are hit-makers in different genres, they each have dual careers as members of bands (Matchbox 20 and Lady Antebellum, respectively), as well as solo artists.  This episode of “CMT Crossroads: Rob Thomas and Charles Kelley” will premiere later this spring.

Before Luke Bryan begins selling out stadium concerts this summer, he joins Jason Derulo, one of pop music’s biggest stars, on stage for a performance that will blend their styles and voices for what’s sure to be a full-throttled genre-bending musical bang worth of music in “CMT Crossroads: Jason Derulo and Luke Bryan” which will premiere this summer.

Nick Jonas and Thomas Rhett are two of music’s hottest male stars at the top of their games, set to come together to re-interpret their collective catalog of chart-busting hits in what’s sure to be a smoldering mash-up of pop and country. “CMT Crossroads: Nick Jonas and Thomas Rhett” premieres this summer.