Blake Shelton, Eli Young Band, Lady Antebellum, Brantley Gilbert to perform at 2012 CMA Awards
Blake Shelton (AP file)
Reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year and Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton, reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum and nominees Eli Young Band and Brantley Gilbert have been added to performing lineup for the 46th Annual CMA Awards.
Tickets for the three-hour gala have sold out for the fourth year in a row, the Country Music Association announced today.
The 46th Annual CMA Awards, hosted for the fifth time by Brad Paisley and Checotah native Carrie Underwood, will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 on the ABC Television Network. Previously announced performers include Underwood, Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Little Big Town, Paisley, The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band.
An Ada native, Shelton received four CMA Awards nominations, including a shared nomination for Song of the Year for “Over You” with wife Lambert. Only a handful of married couples have penned Song of the Year nominees including “Mommas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” by Ed and Patsy Bruce (1978), and two songs by Sanger D. “Whitey” Shafer: “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” with his third wife Darlene Shafer in 1985, and “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” with his fourth wife Lydia Shafer in 1987. Tammy Wynette and George Richey wrote “’Til I Can Make It On My Own” with Billy Sherrill, which was nominated for Song of the Year in 1976, but they did not marry until 1978.
In addition to Song of the Year, Shelton picked up nominations for Entertainer of the Year; Male Vocalist of the Year; and Single of the Year for “God Gave Me You,” produced by fellow Oklahoma native Scott Hendricks. Popular singer/songwriter Dave Barnes received a Song of the Year nomination for writing Shelton’s chart-topping ballad “God Gave Me You.”
Lady Antebellum, the reigning Vocal Group of the Year for the past three consecutive years, is nominated in that category again in 2012. The group is also nominated for Album of the Year for “Own The Night,” which the group produced with Paul Worley making them eligible to receive a second trophy for producing the nominated record.
New to the Vocal Group of the Year category with their first CMA Awards nomination is the Eli Young Band. But it wasn’t the only “first” associated with the group. Songwriters Will Hoge and Eric Paslay each received their first CMA Awards nomination for Song of the Year for writing “Even if It Breaks Your Heart,” which was recorded by the Eli Young Band. The song was the first No. 1 for Hoge, who is a solo artist in his own right. Paslay also has a blossoming solo career and has penned songs for Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, and Love and Theft.
Gilbert received his first CMA Awards nomination in the New Artist of the Year category in 2012 and he will be making his first CMA Awards performance on the three-hour gala. Artists can only be included in this category two times.
Winners of “The 46th Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Monday, Oct. 22.
-BAM
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