Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire chosen for special ACM honors
Garth Brooks (AP file photo)
Reba McEntire (AP file)
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Reba, Garth Brooks receiving special honors
The Academy of Country Music announced this week that the Oklahoma natives have been chosen for awards that will not be televised during Sunday’s live broadcast of the 46th Annual ACM Awards on CBS.
Country music superstars Reba McEntire and Garth Brooks are adding to the career honors they are already receiving this year.
The Academy of Country Music announced this week that the Oklahoma natives have been chosen for special awards that will not be televised during Sunday’s live broadcast of the 46th Annual ACM Awards on CBS.
McEntire, who will co-host Sunday’s telecast with fellow Oklahoman Blake Shelton, has been selected for the ACM’s Career Achievement Award, presented to artists who have advanced the popularity and acceptance of country music through their endeavors in multiple areas of the entertainment industry during the past year.
Three decades into her music career, McEntire, who will be inducted later this year into the Country Music Hall of Fame, remains one of the best-selling and well-liked country artists in history. She also has earned star status as a Broadway, film and TV actress and launched her own bedding, luggage, clothing and shoe lines.
The flame-haired singer, 55, was born in McAlester, raised on her family’s Chockie ranch and graduated from Kiowa High School. Since she got her big break singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” on national TV at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, she has notched 35 No. 1 hits and amassed record sales approaching 57 million units.
A previous winner in the ACM’s entertainer of the year category, she has won the ACM female vocalist award seven times, the most of any artist. In addition, this is her 13th year to host the ACM Awards.
Pioneer Award
Owasso resident Garth Brooks and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers have been chosen to receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award honoring people who are pioneers in the country music genre.
Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America as the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history, Brooks, 49, has sold more than 128 million albums. A Tulsa native who was raised in Yukon, Brooks helped propel country to the musical forefront in the ‘90s with his blend of working man’s blues, honky tonk and arena rock.
Twenty years ago, Brooks, who will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June, dominated the ACM Awards by winning album (“No Fences”), single, song and video (“The Dance”), male vocalist and entertainer of the year. A six-time winner of the entertainer award, the Owasso resident was named the ACM’s Artist of the Decade for the 1990s, while his ambitious concerts raised the bar for live shows across all genres.
In the midst of a booming career, Brooks retired in 2001, delivered his last record for Capitol Records and moved back to Oklahoma to raise his three daughters. In 2009, he reemerged to begin a five-year stint playing acoustic shows at the Wynn Las Vegas resort and casino.
Last December, Brooks played nine Nashville arena shows that raised $5 million for the flood relief efforts in Tennessee. The benefit concerts featured his wife, fellow Grammy-winning country star Trisha Yearwood.
Other awards
Others picked to receive special awards from the ACM include Taylor Swift, who will receive the Jim Reeves International Award, presented to an individual for promoting the acceptance of country music throughout the world; “Country Strong,” the recipient of the Tex Ritter Award, given to a movie released during the past year that features country music; and Tom T. Hall and Hank Cochran, who have been selected for the Poet’s Award, honoring songwriters for outstanding contributions to country music throughout their careers.
John Dorris has been chosen as the recipient of the Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given to an individual in recognition of years of service to the Academy of Country Music. The award is named for the Oklahoma-bred songwriter and career-builder known as “The Queen Mother of Nashville.”
ACM Awards
The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Sunday, on the CBS Television Network. Reba McEntire, who hails from Chockie, and Blake Shelton, an Ada native and Tishomingo resident, will co-host the show.
Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Shelton’s fiancée, has seven Academy of Country Music Award nominations, the most of any solo artist. She and Norman resident Toby Keith are nominated along with Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban for the top award, the fan-voted entertainer of the year title. Voting for entertainer of the year continues and closes during third hour of Sunday’s live broadcast. To vote, go to www.voteACM.com.
Shelton, Reba and Checotah native Carrie Underwood also will contend for ACM Awards.
Follow my live blog of the awards show here at BAM’s Blog at blog.newsok.com/bamsblog.
-BAM
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