Entertainment blogging from The Oklahoman's Brandy McDonnell

Live blog: 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

7:00 p.m.: We’re starting out with Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton “serenading the woman he loves,” according to the announcer, and we see the handsome Ada native playing a guitar and strolling up to a blonde sprawled on a chaise. But the purple nail polish gives it away that we’re seeing Reba in a wig, who tells him, “All right, that’s enough rehearsing for your wedding night. We’ve got a show to get ready for.” Looks like Miranda almost forgot to smile there; she seemed a bit confused, so maybe that opening skit was a surprise for her.

7:02: Blake introduces the night’s first performer and it’s a great one, Brad Paisley doing “Old Alabama,” featuring, naturally, Alabama. It is a new song off his upcoming album “This Is Country Music.” Brad is smoking on the guitar as usual, and the crowd gives a well-deserved standing ovation to three of the guys from the superstar country group. Who doesn’t love Alabama? It’s another great opening number for the ACMs.

7:07: “Give me a yeehaw!” shouts Brad Paisley, as this collaboration becomes the foot-stomping good time we hoped it would be.

7:08: From the classic country of Alabama, we go to the decidedly un-country Celine Dion. Of course, she is a mainstay of the Las Vegas entertainment scene, so she’s here to welcome everyone to Vegas and tout her love of country music, since it’s “always sung from the heart.”

7:09: Celine quickly kicks it to tonight’s co-hosts, Oklahoma natives Reba and Blake. Blake starts out by reading Reba’s part about being so glad he’s here to host his 13th ACM Awards. “Didn’t you read the book I sent you?” Reba says. “‘Co-hosting for Dummies,’ yes, I read it cover to cover,” Blake replies. They say they aren’t going to make any jokes about Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan or any other celebrity scandals, so “good night!” Reba advises him to make quick quips about the country stars, so they’re good-naturedly picking on Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal, Brad Paisley and of course, Miranda. Ouch, that was a big hit on LeAnn Rimes’ marriage swapping activities, and another Blake swipe at Reba’s age, including her “natural” redhead status. Hey, she was once a natural redhead.

7:14: Reba and Blake send it to Norman resident Toby Keith for the first of the entertainer of the year nominee’s performances. Toby is performing his current single, “Somewhere Else,” his favorite track from his 2010 album “Bullets in the Gun.” It’s a deceptively bouncy brokenhearted ballad with a lot of clever wordplay.

Fan voting for entertainer of the year continues up to the start of the third hour of tonight’s show. Along with Toby and Miranda Lambert, the nominees are Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.

7:17: Blake and Reba, who look sharp in their coordinated outfits, with Blake in the gorgeous gray jacket and Reba in the multicolored sparkles, are getting a ride from Brad Garrett to the Strip to the new ACM Fan Jam, a big tie-in concert for the fans. Sugarland is presiding over the first-ever Fan Jam, and the duo’s Jennifer Nettles is set to perform with Rihanna.

7:20: So far, I think Reba and Blake make a pretty good co-hosting duo, which isn’t surprising. They’re both funny people and they have close family ties – her stepson is Blake’s longtime manager – but I hope they’re going to let more of Blake’s crazy sense of humor show. Maybe not, since if you follow his Twitter feed, his language isn’t exactly PG or even PG-13. Maybe the censors fear letting him go too far off script, and I can’t say that I blame ‘em.

7:23: Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton and AnnaSophia Robb, who plays Hamilton in the movie “Soul Surfer,” are onstage, so they must be introducing Carrie Underwood, who makes her movie debut in the biopic as a youth leader. The movie opens Friday.

Interestingly, they pointed out that Carrie is the only woman to win ACM entertainer of the year award twice, without noting that she did accomplished that by winning it back to back over the past two years. Yet she is NOT nominated for EOY tonight. Ripoff. I’m just going to come out and say it. It’s a ripoff. She should have a chance to defend her title. But with the award being fan-voted and her fans going by the well-earned moniker “Carrie’s Army,” I wonder if the producers wondered if there would ever be anyone else win it if they let her defend.

People.com is reporting that Carrie, the 2005 “American Idol” winner, is performing with current “Idol” judge Steven Tyler. She’s playing her hit “Undone It,” and sure enough, here comes the Aerosmith frontman. This is actually a great song choice for this pairing, and the crowd is on its feet, with a big cheer for one of Steve’s big notes. Carrie is wearing a sassy, sparkly gray and black short dress, while Steven is decked out with Elvis flair in a white jumpsuit and full-length white coat.

7:26: Not surprisingly, they’re not stopping with “Undone It,” launching into a duet of the Aerosmith favorite “Walk This Way.” It’s still a fun performance, even if it’s not my favorite Aerosmith song and not, in my opinion, the best showcase for Carrie’s huge pipes. But she did get in a faux kiss with Steven Tyler, so that’s fun and playful.

I can hear the country traditionalists screaming right now about how not country this is, but it is a very Vegas sort of thing. Just look at the red streaks in Carrie’s hair. It’s not meant to be traditional; crossover is here to stay.

Still, as entertaining as this is, I still wish Carrie was paying tribute to fellow Checotah native and great country music voice Mel McDaniel, who died Friday.The crowd is on its feet and cheering for the rocking performance.

7:30: Brad Garrett has ushered Blake and Reba to Mandalay Bay – despite the co-hosts getting distracted by the “sights” (Chippendale dancers and showgirls) and Brad’s grousing – and they’re introducing the artists throwing the big bash, Sugarland. The duo has its usual extravagant staging going – another good hit for the Vegas setting – and Jennifer Nettles is nailing the big note for their anthem “Tonight.”

7:36: As Blake puts it, the focus is on keeping the energy high, so he’s kicking it back to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the ACM Awards are taking place. Dierks Bentley struts onto the stage singing his new single “Am I the Only One.” I adored Dierks’ last album, “Up on the Ridge,” which is up for album of the year and made my cross-genre top 10 albums of 2010, but it is so wonderful to hear raucous new music from Dierks. He’s a personal favorite, and this performance is just terrific fun, as he sprints to the upper deck to sing and party with the folks in the cheap seats. See why I love him?

7:40: OK, as much as I’m enjoying tonight’s performances, we’re 40 minutes in and we haven’t given away one award, except for the special awards that won’t be televised and were announced last week and the two awards given on red carpet. Isn’t this the ACM AWARDS? Get on with it!

7:45: Entertainer of the year nominee Keith Urban is performing the sweet-sounding ballad “Without You” on a darkened stage lit by a table lamp. It’s referencing his romance with his wife, Nicole Kidman, and the arrival of a baby girl. They recently welcomed their second daughter, Faith, who was carried by a surrogate. It’s a lovely song, but I can’t help but giggle thinking of Blake joking he’ll start writing sweet songs for Miranda when she wins an Oscar like Nicole in tonight’s opening joke barrage.

7:49: We’re zipping back to Mandalay Bay, where Sugarland is introducing Eric Church, who already has won the fan-voted top new solo artist award and is vying with The Band Perry for the fan-voted top new artist prize, to be announced tonight. I don’t like Eric’s chance of beating The Band Perry and their legion young fans and white-hot momentum. But you gotta like his performance of “Smoke a Little Smoke,” which Blake used as the punchline for his Miley Cyrus joke. Not only is Eric putting in a smoking hot performance, he’s even managing to carry off the aviator sunglasses look.

7:52: People, “Gossip Girl” star Chace Crawford and model/actress Brooklyn Decker are taking the stage, and Chace is carrying an envelope. Nearly an hour in, and we may actually see this award show give out an award. Shocking, I know.

It’s gonna be the song of the year. Go Miranda!

Nominees:

Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

A Little More Country Than That – Easton Corbin

Composers: Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, Wynn Varble

Publishers: A Sling And A Prayer Music (ASCAP), Chrysalis One Music (ASCAP), Don Poythress Songs (ASCAP), Precious Flour Music (BMI), Universal Music-MGB Songs (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

As She’s Walking Away – Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson

Composers: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette

Publishers: Angelika Music (BMI), Weimerhound Publishing (BMI)

If I Die Young – The Band Perry

Composer: Kimberly Perry

Publishers: Pearlfeather Publishing (BMI), Rio Bravo Music, Inc. (BMI)

Love Like Crazy – Lee Brice

Composers: Tim James, Doug Johnson

Publishers: Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sweet Radical Music (BMI), T-Bird’s Music (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

*The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert

Composers: Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin

Publishers: Built On Rock (ASCAP), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Tomdouglasmusic (BMI)

7:55: Winner: “The House That Built Me”! Miranda takes the stage in a gorgeous short and sassy hot pink dress, but she gives the microphone over to the songwriters, Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin, who definitely deserve a chance to thank everyone and give a shoutout to all the kids out there who haven’t found a home yet. It’s amazing that someone else wrote this song, which closely reflects events in Miranda’s real life.

Even though it’s primarily a songwriting award, it still would have been nice to hear from Miranda. And come on, it’s supposed to be an AWARDS show, and they barely gave Douglas and Shamblin 30 seconds to say their thank yous. Not cool.

7:59: Entertainer of the year nominee Taylor Swift is debuting her new single “Mean.” And she’s playing the banjo. I wasn’t expecting that. But she’s totally pulling it off, and the crowd is clapping along with her pointed message to the vitriolic critics who have sometimes dumped on her. I think her performance is great, but speaking of dumpy, I’m not crazy about the beige lace frock she’s wearing. I like it much better when she rocks one of her sassy-sparkly dress, which OKC fans should get a chance to witness this fall.

She sounds great, and she has once again proven that she knows just how to deal with those who do her wrong: Write a hit song about her. Several in the star-studded crowd got to their feet to applaud her, including Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley. It wasn’t quite a standing O, but it’s clear that the crowd was won over by young Taylor’s awards show performance.

8:04: Back to Mandalay Bay and the Fan Jam, where quartet Little Big Town introduces fellow vocal group The Band Perry, which is the winner of the top new group or duo award and my favorite to win the fan-voted top new artist. They sibling trio is playing its smash “If I Die Young,” which is a good song, but I wish we were hearing a new song from them tonight.

8:07: The handsome Luke Bryan, 2010′s top new artist winner, takes the stage at Mandalay Bay to present the 2011 top new artist victor. The choices are The Band Perry and Eric Church, and Luke says it will be a “life-changing vote” for someone.

8:08: Winner: The Band Perry. Eric Church is graciously congratulates the young trio, and Kimberly Perry notes that since they’re a family band, she and her brothers want to thank they’re parents. They are also thanking the fans – “our songs are yours,” Kimberly says – along with their extended family at the increasingly big Big Machine, country radio and Eric Church. Like the graciousness being shown there.

8:14: Reba is telling everyone that Blake hosting yesterday the first-ever ACM Celebrity Shoot and wants to know how it went. Blake: “Great. I shot three celebrities and Luke Bryan.” Of course, since it’s Reba, she’s already changed outfits into a lacy navy dress, and Blake has ditched the gray jacket so he can match her.

They’re kicking it over to entertainer of the year nominee Jason Aldean, for his tongue-twisting new song “Red Dirt Anthem.” I think this one is going to have to grow on me. I usually love Jason, but the rapid-fire, nearly rap vocal delivery on this song has really taken me aback. It’s so different, I’m going to have to give it a chance to settle on my ears before I pass a final judgment on it.

8:18: Welcome “Entertainment Tonight’s” Nancy O’Dell, a bit of CBS product placement here to announce the single record of the year winner. Not crazy about this network homer as a presenter of one of our precious few awards tonight, but love the gold gown. Here are the noms, at any rate, and again, go Miranda!

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
A Little More Country Than That – Easton Corbin (Mercury) – Produced by: Carson Chamberlain
As She’s Walking Away — Zac Brown Band Featuring Alan Jackson (Southern Ground / Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic) – Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall
If I Die Young – The Band Perry (Republic Nashville) – Produced by: Paul Worley
Love Like Crazy – Lee Brice (Curb Records) – Produced by: Lee Brice, Doug Johnson
The Boys of Fall – Kenny Chesney (BNA) – Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
*The House That Built Me — Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville) – Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke

8:20: Winner: Miranda Lambert! That’s three ACMs tonight for “The House That Built Me.” She’s thanking the producer and songwriters as amazing, but she’s not nearly as animated as she has been with past award show wins. She looks radiant in her hot pink dress and shimmering, towering gold heels, but she’s just not as bubbly as usual. She is recovering from a respiratory infection, or maybe she’s just saving her energy for her performance – and for her show Thursday in Norman.

8:25: Reba is introducing her co-host with a “man can he sing,” and Blake takes the stage in all black to perform his new song “Honey Bee.” It’s a spirited ballad, and I’m liking it. Blake’s rowdy sense of humor and country-boy antics tend to overshadow his incredible skills as a balladeer, and I’m happy to see him sort of merging those different aspects of his persona her. Plus, it’s a sweet, uptempo little song.

8:29: “Thank y’all already, by the way,” Miranda Lambert says with a big smile. She’s radiant and she’s going to be presenting album of the year, which she won last year. I’m rooting for Dierks, but I imagine Ran’s pals in Lady A or Jamey Johnson have got this. Here are the noms in this very competitive category:

Album of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kenny Chesney (BNA) – Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville) – Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley
The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson (Mercury) – Produced by: Arlis Albritton, Dave Cobb, The Kent Hardly Playboys
Speak Now – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records) – Produced by: Nathan Chapman, Taylor Swift
Up on the Ridge – Dierks Bentley (Capitol Records Nashville) – Produced by: Jon Randall Stewart
You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Roar / Bigger Picture / Atlantic) – Produced by: Zac Brown, Keith Stegall

8:31: Winner: Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert shouts with a huge grin. The trio stops for hugs from Taylor Swift, and Lady A’s Charles Kelley starts their acceptance speech by thanking Miranda Lambert for winning the category last year and not being in it this year. “That really helps a lot,” he jokes. They’re thanking all the usual suspects. I must say, the speeches tonight have been admirably short but rather boring tonight. We need someone to just get up there and gush and lose their mind with excitement if the awards are going to come close to matching tonight’s performances.

8:38: Blake notes of the MGM Grand that it is huge and it would take Charlie Sheen forever to trash it. Reba: “I thought we weren’t doing any Charlie Sheen jokes.” Blake: “That’s not a joke.” Nope, but it’s funny because it’s true.

Their introducing Sara Evans, who is making a big comeback with her new album “Stronger.” And she looks and sounds amazing in slim black pants and top as she croons the title track. It’s good to have Sara back and sounding wonderful. And I’m not the only one who thinks so: She’s getting a standing ovation from the appreciative audience.

8:42: Donny and Marie Osmond are taking the stage, and they’re making a joke about their old song, with Donny declaring “Tonight, we’re all a little bit country.” They’re going to give out the vocal group of the year award, and interestingly, Rascal Flatts isn’t nominated after dominating it for so long. I love that Randy Rogers Band is, but I think Lady A takes this one without much effort.

Top Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Randy Rogers Band
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

8:44: Winner: Lady A. And apparently Charles Kelley heard my plea for some entertaining speeches. He jokes, “Sharing the stage with the Osmonds, look mom and dad.” Hilary Scott leads the trio in thanking every star who has ever let them open for them. Nice.

8:45: Duo Montgomery Gentry are introducing a montage of all the activities the ACM hosted this week as Vegas went country. They’re flubbing the canned dialogue, but it’s good to see Eddie Montgomery, even if he isn’t any good a reading a prompter. The singer said on the red carpet that he is cancer free. Awesome news.

8:51: Blake looks quite handsome in his simple black jacket and white shirt. He’s introducing the woman who will in 5 weeks become his wife, ending their career as wedding planners. “Actually, she’s the wedding planner. I’m just the guy who stands here and does this,” he said, tossing money all over the stage. “Take it. Take it all!” Hilarious!

Miranda’s got on a different but equally incredible hot pink dress as she sings her latest single, “Heart Like Mine.” She’s got a big smile, a matching pink mic and sparkles on the neckline that match her guitar strap. Even better, it seems that her recent bout of illness may have scuttled her Australian dates with Alan Jackson, but she sounds fantastic. Can’t wait to see her Thursday at OU’s Lloyd Noble Center (even if it means entering enemy territory for an OSU Cowboys alum and fan). “Heart Like Mine” is the last single from her career-changing “Revolution” album, and it really suits Miranda. But I am so ready to hear what she’s doing next. The crowd seems to love Ran as much as country fans and I do.

8:55: Country traditionalists, please just avert your eyes and plug your ears, or better yet, just run screaming from the room. We’re back to the Fan Jam at Mandalay Bay, where Sugarland’s Kristian Bush is introducing a never-before-seen bit of music history, which means it’s time for the much-ballyhooed pairing of Jennifer Nettles with Rihanna on the pink-haired diva’s “California King Bed.”

8:58: So, I’m personally loving this performance. Both Jennifer (sleek in her black pantsuit) and Rihanna (glamorously playful in her short white dress with fringe on the bodice) have powerhouse voices, and this heartbroken ballad could easily be a straight-up country strong with fewer electric guitars and more fiddles and pedal steel. With the electric guitars, it’s not any less country than most of the show. And you cannot fault the performances, even if you can argue they don’t belong on this show, because both singers sound amazing and the guitar solos burned up the stage.

I know this show happens in Vegas, but I’m really wishing that Easton Corbin or George Strait were performing tonight to bring some more traditional country to the show. Or maybe Randy Travis, who is celebrating 25 years. Plus, I think a tribute to Mel McDaniel is definitely needed here. C’mon country music, showing your roots isn’t just a hair faux pas, it’s a good idea for a format known for its rich history and strong values.

I like both traditional and contemporary country, but I think some balance is definitely needed here.

9:05: “Here we are, just two kids from Oklahoma in Las Vegas,” Reba says. She notes that back in Kiowa, the Fluffy Bunny Ranch is a petting zoo. “It kind of here is, too,” Blake quips, getting a sideways look from Reba. She encourages people to “give the kid of break” as former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn makes his awards show debut; obviously he’s no novice, he’s just making his post-Brooks & Dunn premiere singing his first solo single “Bleed Red.”

It’s a gorgeous piano ballad, and it should appeal more to traditional country fans, even though it has violins instead of fiddles. Ronnie sounds terrific, and I think part two of his career is going to be just amazing. I can’t wait to hear the full album. And he’s getting a stand O: Carrie Underwood has a beautiful smile for him, and Taylor Swift mouths “wow.” Wow, indeed.

9:11: The Judds are here talking about what it takes to be a successful duo, and Wynonna comments, “If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother.” These sassy ladies are almost enough to make me wish I had Oprah’s network. Almost. Here are the top vocal duo noms:

Top Vocal Duo of the Year
The JaneDear Girls
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

9:12: Winner: Sugarland. “We’ve never been presented these nice trophies by people with such big feathers before,” Jennifer Nettles jokes as the showgirls at Mandalay Bay gives them their awards. Cute. On a side note, Jennifer gets the Reba McEntire Award for quick change artistry, for changing swiftly into that lovely purple gown.

9:13: Reba, who has changed into a shimmery pale gown, and she’s praising fellow Martina McBride, who penned the song she is about to debut, “Teenage Daughters.” She has three daughters, so not only is the perpetually young Martina – who is the perennial exception to my black is boring rule – the great country voice, she’s also the voice of experience tonight. As a mom of three, including a teenage boy myself, I love this song for being so relatable.

Clearly, I’m not the only one who could relate and love this song: She got a standing O. The crowd seems to be loving this show.

9:22: Another CBS homer, “CSI” star Marg Helgenberger, gets the honor of presenting the top male vocalist award. Go Blake!

Top Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
*Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban

9:24: Winner: Brad Paisley. I hate to see Blake go home empty-handed, but I can’t argue with the pick. He says “I’m honestly shocked. This is way too many of these for me.” He thanks country fans for giving him the chance to do this for a living, and he’s praising the other nominees, noting “I don’t want to even know how close the voting was.” He’s thanking everyone, including his parents, wife and kids and even his dog, Holler. Go Brad.

9:25: Chris Young and Julianne Hough are talking about their work with the ACM Lifting Lives music campers, people young and old who struggle with developmental disorders and issues but whom Chris says blew him away with their talents. Chris and Oklahoma-bred songwriter Brett James wrote the song “Music from the Heart,” which the campers and Darius Rucker are going to perform. It’s this year’s project from ACM Lifting Lives, the academy’s charity branch.

The crowd is on it feet clapping, and both Taylor and Carrie can be seen with tears in their eyes at the end of the performance. A few of the 25 campers also have tears on their cheeks, and they and Darius are bubbling with happiness. It’s an uplifting moment for a good cause.

The special performance will support the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, whose mission is to facilitate discoveries and best practices that make positive differences in the lives of persons with developmental disabilities and their families. The VKC has hosted a music camp for people with Williams Syndrome, Autism and other developmental disabilities for six years, and this past summer, ACM Lifting Lives sponsored the camp for the first time. Being so touched by the experience, the academy has sought to do more for those with developmental disabilities ever since, hence this performance.

9:34: Blake is getting tongue tied as he introduces his co-host, who won a special off-camera ACM for being the academy’s most-awarded female star. Reba looks sophisticated in her slim, dark pantsuit as she croons new single “When Love Gets a Hold on You.” She sounds incredible as usual; it’s no wonder she’s nominated again for top female vocalist.

Today is my 34th birthday, but when I finally grow up, I want to be Reba.

Apparently, the crowd agrees, because they’re back on their feet to cheer for the flamehaired songbird from Chockie.

9:39: “Twilight” heartthrob Robert Pattinson guides “Water for Elephants” co-star and “Walk the Line” Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon. They shot part of “Water for Elephants” in Tennessee, and Rob tells her his favorite part about Tennessee was drinking moonshine and botches the common Southern phrase “hey, all y’all.”

They’re presenting top female vocalist. Go Miranda!

Top Female Vocalist of the Year
*Miranda Lambert
*Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack

9:42: Winner: Miranda Lambert! Woohoo! “We say ‘How are all y’all,” Miranda tells Rob and Reese, and then comments that she doesn’t know why she’s up there. She gets effusive as she lavishes thanks on her fans for supporting her. I guess she was just trying to give her collaborators a chance to talk with her previous acceptance speeches, because she seems plenty thrilled now. Go Ran! Can’t wait to see here Thursday.

9:46: Reba and Blake are back, and he’s noting that she was recently was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Wax. She’s correcting him that it’s Country Music Hall of Fame and scold him, “When you’re in a hole, quit digging and start introducing.” Alan Jackson gets some big cheer as he takes the stage; unfortunately, it’s not to perform. But he’s introducing a performance that “ought to be really cool”: His recent collaborators Zac Brown Band with singer-songwriter James Taylor.

ZBB always gives such great performances on these awards shows, and they’re doing another fantastic job with Taylor on “Colder Weather.” This is definitely a highlight of tonight’s show. (Yes, Alan Jackson with ZBB would have done more to appease traditional country fans, but we’ve seen it already.) Now, James Taylor and ZBB are segueing seamlessly into Taylor’s classic “Sweet Baby James.” Oh, yeah, definitely deserving of that standing O. That was just amazing.

9:56: Ryan Seacrest is up to give EOY, and he notes, “People say this has been a great night for country music; I disagree. This has been a great night for American music.” Hmm. Interesting.

He says this is the most votes ever cast in the EOY category. Here are the nominees. Can Miranda continue to dominate?

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
*Toby Keith
*Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban

9:58: Winner: Taylor Swift. “This is the first time I’ve ever won this, and I’m losing my mind,” says Taylor, who looks lovely and shocked in her long, lacy yellow gown. “The fact that this is from the fans, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me ever.” She notes she just came back from touring Asia and thanks her fans for not forgetting her.

Hmm, again. It’s not really a surprise, since it seems the ACMs set her up to win by eliminating Carrie Underwood and her huge fan base from contention. No doubt Taylor Swift had a great year with the runaway success of “Speak Now” and the accompanying tour. But I would have loved to see Miranda make it a sweep tonight. Ah, well, she did OK anyway.

9:59: Reba gives Blake the final word of the evening. “Good night,” he says. “That’s two words!” she scolds. “Damn,” says Blake.

Traditional country fans probably couldn’t have put it better. It makes me sad that Mel McDaniel didn’t get a tribute or that special award winners like Garth Brooks didn’t get any notice at all, except for Reba (and only because she was co-hosting).

Still, it was an interesting night in Las Vegas and for the annual BAM’s Blog ACM Awards live blog. It’s my birthday, so I’m going to treat myself to a piece of cake. I invite you guys to celebrate or cope with your disgust, whichever your country music affiliation, with the pastry of your choice.

Thanks for spending the evening and my b-day with me!

-BAM

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Reminder: Follow the BAM’s Blog ACM Awards live blog tonight!

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.

(Fans of Oklahoma cowboys Cord and Jet McCoy should note that “The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business” will not air tonight because of the ACM Awards. The reality show will return April 10.)

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.

Along with all five entertainer nominees, former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, Underwood, Reba, Shelton, Alabama, Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Martina McBride and Zac Brown Band with James Taylor have been announced as performers for Sunday’s show.

Shelton, Reba and Checotah native Carrie Underwood also will contend for ACM Awards.

Please follow my live blog of the awards show here at BAM’s Blog starting at 7 tonight!

-BAM

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Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith among Oklahomans vying for ACM Awards Sunday night

From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.

ACM Awards airing live Sunday night
Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert earned seven ACM nominations — including a berth in the fan-voted top category, entertainer of the year — the most of any solo artist.

Miranda Lambert is still amazed at the sustained orbit for the “Revolution” she started 18 months ago.

The fiery singer-songwriter, who lives in Tishomingo, will vie for seven Academy of Country Music trophies, the most of any solo artist, when the 46^th Annual ACM Awards air live Sunday night.

“I was doing the announcement for the nominations with (former Tulsan) Ronnie Dunn and was very surprised that I was eligible in so many categories. Seems like it just keeps on going. Winning would be great of course, but there are a lot of great projects nominated in my categories, so we will see,” said Lambert in an e-mail interview last week while recovering from a respiratory infection.

“Awards and praise mean a lot to an artist, it’s a validation that people like what you do. For me being nominated means a lot as well, as these awards are determined by my peers, folks in the music industry. My career is very satisfying, with or without all those nominations but (I) still like getting them! I love performing and I love writing and recording music, I sure hope I get to do for a long time.”

Oklahoma nominees

Oklahoma stars Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood also will contend for trophies when the 46th Annual ACM Awards are broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS. McEntire, who hails from Chockie, and Shelton, Lambert’s fiance and fellow Tishomingo resident, will co-host the show.

With her career hot streak continuing, Lambert not only earned the most nominations of any solo artist, she also is competing for the first time for ACM entertainer of the year. Keith, who lives in Norman, received his sole nomination in the academy’s top category. Others vying for the entertainer title include Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.

Along with all five entertainer nominees, former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, Underwood, Reba, Shelton, Alabama, Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Martina McBride and Zac Brown Band with James Taylor have been announced as performers for Sunday’s show.

Surprisingly, Underwood did not garner an entertainer nomination, even though she earned the fan-voted award the past two years. Last year, the Checotah native became the first woman to win twice in the ACM’s top category.

Choosing winners

Fan voting for entertainer of the year and top new artist continues through Sunday at www.VoteACM.com, with top new artist voting halting before the awards show and entertainer balloting closing during the third hour of the live broadcast. The Band Perry and Eric Church are the finalists for top new artist.

Along with her entertainer nod, Lambert is nominated for single record and song of the year for her emotional hit “The House That Built Me” and received two nominations for video of the year, for “The House That Built Me” and her sassy “Only Prettier.” The Texas native is contending for vocal event of the year with Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn for their rendition of Lynn’s classic hit “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Lambert also will have the chance to defend the top female vocalist title she won last year. She will compete against McEntire and Underwood, who received their only ACM nominations in that category, along with Swift and Lee Ann Womack.

With her seven ACM nominations, Lambert maintains the career momentum she started with the fall 2009

release of her acclaimed third album “Revolution.” She won her first Grammy for best female country vocal performance for “The House That Built Me” in February. She will bring her “The Revolution Continues” tour to the University of Oklahoma’s Lloyd Noble Center Thursday, April 7 four days after the ACM Awards.

Shelton received two ACM nominations, for top male vocalist and for video of the year for the raucous mini-movie to “Hillbilly Bone,” his hit duet with Trace Adkins. The Ada native won his first ACM trophy last year for vocal event for “Hillbilly Bone.”

Hot newcomers

Following Lambert’s leading seven nods, Zac Brown Band is nominated for five awards, including top vocal group, album of the year for “You Get What You Give,” and song, single record and vocal event of the year for “As She’s Walking Away,” featuring Alan Jackson. Frontman Zac Brown received four more individual nods for producing “You Get What You Give” and producing and writing “As She’s Walking Away.”

Kenny Chesney also garnered five nods, for album of the year for “Hemingway’s Whiskey” and as producer and artist for his single record of the year contender “The Boys of Fall,” for which he also is nominated for video of the year.

For the ACM Awards, 2011 looks to be a big year for hot newcomers, with The Band Perry, Easton Corbin and Lee Brice earning multiple nominations. The upstart presence is particularly seen in the top vocal duo and vocal group categories.

With last year’s breakup of Brooks & Dunn, the duo category includes The JaneDear Girls and Steel Magnolia, two pairings that just released their debut albums in the new year, along with Joey + Rory, Montgomery Gentry and Sugarland.

In the group category, venerable trio Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, was left out despite releasing a new album in 2010. The group contenders include The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Randy Rogers Band and Zac Brown Band.

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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Chris Young, Julianne Hough, Bethany Hamilton, AnnaSophia Robb to present at ACM Awards

Bethany Hamilton, Julianne Hough, AnnaSophia Robb and Chris Young have been added to the presenters for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, to be broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 3 on the CBS Television Network.

The ceremony, which honors country music’s top talent as well as the industry’s hottest emerging artists, will be co-hosted by Oklahoma natives Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire.

Hamilton, Hough, Robb and Young join previously announced presenters Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Nancy O’Dell and Ryan Seacrest. In addition, Reba, Shelton, former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Alabama, Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Martina McBride and Zac Brown Band with James Taylor, along with Entertainer of the Year nominees Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Norman resident Toby Keith, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban have been announced as performers.

Recently nominated for his first Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance with his hit, “Gettin’ You Home,” Young is gearing up to hit the road with Jason Aldean on his sold-out “My Kinda Party Tour” this summer. With his rich, warm baritone and penchant for writing relatable, slice-of-life songs, Young has emerged as a fan-favorite with three consecutive No. 1s on the radio and an album approaching gold. His new single, “Tomorrow,” from his forthcoming album, “Neon,” which is set for release this summer, is quickly climbing the country charts.

Hough is a true triple-threat as a singer/actress/dancer known to millions of fans as the two-time professional dance champion on “Dancing With the Stars” before expanding into the worlds of music and film. Her self-titled debut album, released by Universal Music Group Nashville in 2008, hit the Billboard Country charts at #1 and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3. Hough will next be seen in the remake of the classic movie musical, “Footloose,” which is slated for release this October.

Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination, and hope. On Oct. 31, 2003, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. The attack took her left arm and seemed to end her career as a rising surf star just as it began; however, Bethany has been able to touch a large number of people with her message, charitable efforts and overall spirit. Her story will be seen on the big screen this April in “Soul Surfer,” which will mark Underwood’s movie debut.

Robb is recognized as one of the elite young actresses in film today. Known for her roles in “Race to Witch Mountain,” “Samantha: An American Girl Holiday” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Robb will next be seen on the big screen in her portrayal of Bethany Hamilton in “Soul Surfer.”

- BAM

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Ronnie Dunn to release self-titled debut solo album June 7

His voice has helped define the soundtrack of country music for two decades, and now former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn is poised to continue that legacy with the release of his self-titled solo debut album, coming June 7. A 12-track collection, “Ronnie Dunn” captures the multi-award-winning singer/songwriter’s most complete musical vision, produced solely by Dunn, with eight songs that he wrote or co-wrote.

It’s the album he’s always wanted to make, and “Ronnie Dunn” is said to deliver in a big way, from the stirring poignancy of the smash first single, “Bleed Red,” to the energized cantina-country of the Dunn/Terry McBride co-write, “How Far to Waco,” the all-too-real everyman’s portrait of “Cost of Livin’,” and the devastating, heart-on-the-line balladry of the Dunn-penned “Last Love I’m Tryin’.”

The collection kicks-off with the party-time opener, “Singer in a Cowboy Band” (penned by Dunn and Craig Wiseman), and closes with another Dunn co-write, the soulful “Love Owes Me One.”

“Bleed Red,” the first hit from the new album, is available now as a digital single and is currently Top 15 and climbing on the country airplay charts. Fans will have the chance to see Dunn deliver his first televised performance of “Bleed Red” on The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards airing April 3 on CBS.

While in Las Vegas for the ACM Awards, Dunn will also headline the free, open-to-the-public concert on Saturday, April 2, as part of ACM Weekend on Fremont Street Experience.

In addition, Dunn will perform Saturday, May 7 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville. For more information, go to www.winstarworldcasino.com.

-BAM

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Carrie Underwood, Reba, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn added to performers list for ACM Awards

The Academy of Country Music has added even more Oklahomans to the roster of performers for the 46th Annual ACM Awards. Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Chockie product Reba McEntire, Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn all have been added to the performers for the show, along with  Alabama, Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Martina McBride and Zac Brown Band with James Taylor.

The ACM Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 3 on the CBS Television Network. The ceremony, which honors country music’s top talent as well as the industry’s hottest emerging artists, will be co-hosted by Reba and Shelton.

The aforementioned artists join previously announced performers Norman resident Toby Keith, Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban—all of whom are Entertainer of the Year nominees.

Carrie Underwood is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. Having won a total of 10 ACM Awards, Underwood is the two-time reigning Entertainer of the Year and has won Female Vocalist three times. (Surprisingly, she is not nominated again for Entertainer this year.)

Reba has won 12 ACM Awards, including seven wins for Female Vocalist of the Year, and was awarded the first-ever annual Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award for her outstanding philanthropic work. This broadcast will mark Reba’s 13th time hosting the show.

Blake Shelton will make his debut this year as an ACM Award co-host with Reba. Shelton has been nominated for three ACM Awards and won his first ACM award last year for Vocal Event of the Year

for his No. 1 hit single, “Hillbilly Bone,” which features longtime friend Trace Adkins.

Ronnie Dunn helped define the country landscape over the past 20 years as one half of the most successful duo in country music history. He now builds on his 30-million-selling album history as part of Brooks & Dunn with his Arista Nashville solo debut album, slated for release later this year. The album’s stirring first single, “Bleed Red,” is available now.

Alabama has won an astounding 20 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, including six times for Vocal Group of the Year and five times for Entertainer of the Year, and was named Artist of the Decade in 1988. Alabama will perform with Entertainer of the Year nominee Brad Paisley.

Dierks Bentley is nominated for Album of the Year for Up on the Ridge. Bentley won New Artist of the Year in 2003.

Sara Evans debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart this past week with the release of her sixth studio album, Stronger, featuring her current smash, the RIAA-certified Gold Digital Single, “A Little Bit Stronger.” A past ACM Female Vocalist winner, Evans’ chart-topping career includes more than five million albums sold and such #1 hits as “Suds in the Bucket,” “A Real Fine Place to Start,” “No Place That Far” and “Born to Fly.”

Martina McBride is a three-time Female Vocalist winner and was also awarded the Humanitarian Award in 2003 for her charitable work. During the “Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country” special, which will be broadcast Friday, April 22 on CBS, McBride will be honored once again by ACM Lifting Lives (the ACM’s charitable arm) for her dedication to raising social consciousness of domestic violence and encouraging female empowerment through songs.

Over the course of his career, James Taylor has sold some 40 million albums and has earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. As a recording and touring artist inducted into both the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, Taylor has set a precedent for solo singer/songwriters and blazed a path to which countless numbers of earnest young musicians have since aspired.

Zac Brown Band is nominated for five awards, including Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year. Zac Brown Band is also nominated for Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away,” featuring Alan Jackson. Zac Brown Band will perform “Colder Weather” at the ACM Awards with one of their idols, James Taylor.

-BAM

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The Judds, Loretta Lynn to be honored, and Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, Vince Gill to perform on “Girls’ Night Out” special

The Judds and Loretta Lynn will join previously announced country superstars Miranda Lambert, Reba, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride and Jennifer Nettles, on the TV concert special “Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country.”  All honorees will perform and be honored at the taping on April 4 – the day after the Academy of Country Music Awards – at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“Girls’ Night Out” will air at 8 p.m. Friday, April 22 on the CBS Television Network.

Not only will three of Oklahoma’s superstar ladies – Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Reba – be honored, but several of the state’s high-profile country gentlemen also will perform in honor of the girls during the concert.

Throughout the concert, each presenter will perform a solo and occasionally a duet with their honoree. Duets include former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn with Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts (which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Picher) with Reba, Oklahoma City-bred Vince Gill with Carrie Underwood, as well as special performances by Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean. More are to be announced in the coming days.

The special is a tribute concert featuring an A-list lineup of performers paying respect to today’s most popular female artists in country music, all of whom will be honored with unique accolades from the Academy of Country Music for special achievements in their careers.

The “Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country” honorees:

· Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, who will be recognized for being the only female artist in the academy’s history to ever win Album of the Year twice, first for “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” in 2007 and again for “Revolution” in 2009.

· Chockie native Reba, who will be recognized for winning Female Vocalist of the Year seven times—more than any other artist in the academy’s history.

· Checotah native Carrie Underwood, who will be recognized for being the only female artist in the academy’s history to ever win Entertainer of the Year twice, first in 2008 and again in 2009 (she is the reigning Entertainer of the Year, since awards recognize the previous calendar year’s work).

· The Judds, who will be recognized for being the ACM’s most award-winning female duo, having won Vocal Duo of the Year seven years in a row, 1984-90, and Song of the Year in 1984 for “Why Not Me.”

· Loretta Lynn, who will be recognized for her amazing 50-year career as a leading female artist in country music, which includes being the only female artist recognized by the academy as Artist of the Decade, Entertainer of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year four times.

· Martina McBride, who will be recognized by ACM Lifting Lives for her dedication to raising social consciousness through songs such as “Independence Day” and “Concrete Angel,” which raise awareness of domestic violence and encourage female empowerment. McBride has won Female Vocalist of the Year three times (2001, 2002 and 2003).

· Jennifer Nettles, who will be recognized for being one of only two female artists in the Academy’s history to ever solo write and perform Song of the Year, in 2007, with “Stay.”

-BAM

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Tickets on sale Friday for Ronnie Dunn, Steely Dan shows at Winstar World Casino

THACKERVILLE -Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for two of WinStar World Casino’s big upcoming shows: Former Tulsan and country music star Ronnie Dunn and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Steely Dan.

Tickets will be available by phone at (580) 276-8510 or online at www.WinStarWorldCasino.com.

Dunn will play the Thackerville casino at 8 p.m. May 7. The country music star is launching a solo career after 20 years as half the iconic duo Brooks & Dunn, which broke up last summer. The Grammy-winning duo sold tens of millions of albums and was among the most awarded country music acts in history.

Six months after splitting from longtime musical partner Kix Brooks, Dunn has released his first single and is planning a summer release for his as-yet untitled new album.

“This is the record I’ve waited all my life to do,” Dunn told the Associated Press recently.

When it was released last month, Dunn’s new single, “Bleed Red,” became the most added new song of the week, according to Country Aircheck and Billboard.

Dunn produced the album himself and enjoyed making his own way after being half of a duo for two decades.

Dunn also cut a cover of “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Double)” on the soundtrack to the recent country music-driven movie “Country Strong.”

For more information, go to www.RonnieDunn.com.

Steely Dan will play Winstar at 8 p.m. July 13.

The band dazzled the public and critics alike in 2009 with their classic-albums-in-full “Rent Party” tour. Now, the band is responding to overwhelming popular demand and returning to the road to give fans more Steely Dan action. Greatest hits and deep cuts alike will be showcased at the band’s show at Winstar World Casino on July 13. Acclaimed jazz artist Sam Yahel is on board as the tour’s main support act.

For the show, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are back with their impressive group of players including Keith Carlock (drums); Jon Herington (guitar); Freddie Washington (bass); Jim Beard (keys); Michael Leonhart, Walt Weiskopf, Roger Rosenberg and Jim Pugh (horns); plus background singers Carolyn Leonhart, Cindy Mizelle, and Catherine Russell.

Steely Dan has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and helped define the soundtrack of the ’70s with hits including “Do It Again,” “Reelin’ in the Years,” “Bodhisattva,” “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “F.M.,” “Peg,” “Deacon Blues,” “Hey Nineteen” and “Babylon Sisters.” They reunited in the early ’90s and have toured throughout the decade and beyond, releasing multi-Grammy winner “Two Against Nature” in 2000 and its acclaimed follow-up “Everything Must Go” in 2003. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Critics raved about the performances on the “Rent Party” 2009 tour, with the New York Times stating that Fagen “was deep in the music… a cross between Count Basie and Ray Charles.” The Chicago Sun-Times proclaimed: “This was different. This was live. This was vibrant. This was a cascade of color carried along by Fagen, Becker, eight brilliant supporting musicians and three superb backing vocalists.” The Los Angeles Times raved: “Everyone gathered Friday evening was a believer – and they were treated to something close to rapture.”

For more information, go to www.steelydan.com.

-BAM

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Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans headlining ACM concerts in Las Vegas

Former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, along with Sara Evans, will headline the Academy of Country Music Concerts at Freemont Street Experience April 1-2 in Las Vegas.

The concerts take place in conjunction with The Week Vegas Goes Country, the week of the 46th

Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 3 on the CBS Television Network.

For the fifth year in a row, the Academy of Country Music will present free and open-to-the-public concerts on two stages in downtown Las Vegas at Fremont Street Experience.

Dunn is launching a solo career after 20 years as half the iconic duo Brooks & Dunn, which broke up last summer. The Grammy-winning duo sold tens of millions of albums and was among the most awarded country music acts in history.

Six months after splitting from longtime musical partner Kix Brooks, Dunn has released his first single and is planning a summer release for his as-yet untitled new album.

“This is the record I’ve waited all my life to do,” Dunn told the Associated Press last week after announcing the ACM Awards nominations with Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert. “We just wrapped it up.”

The single, “Bleed Red,” was released last week and became the most added new song of the week, according to Country Aircheck and Billboard.

Dunn produced the album himself and enjoyed making his own way after being half of a duo for two decades.

“It is refreshing,” he told the AP.

When discussing his plans for the future last year, Dunn vowed he’d hit the road in a simpler fashion than he’d done with Brooks & Dunn: He said instead of a big bus, he’d find a secondhand van and an old horse trailer, load in some equipment and hit the road in search of a welcoming beer joint.

He says he’s sticking to that plan as another stage of his career unfolds.

“I’m not going to get wrapped up into all that overhead,” he joked to the AP.

Dunn will play a solo show May 7 at Thackerville’s WinStar World Casino. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. March 4. For more information, go to www.winstarworldcasino.com.

-BAM

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Tulsa’s BOK Center earns 2nd nomination for Academy of Country Music’s venue of the year

For the second year in a row, Tulsa’s BOK Center has been nominated by the Academy of Country Music for venue of the year. In order to be considered for this award, the venue must have bought or promoted at least five country concerts during the prior calendar year of Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2010 and be in good standing with all agents. The BOK Center hosted these country concerts last year:

• George Strait with Reba McEntire

• Tim McGraw

• Hank Williams Jr.

• Brooks & Dunn

• Carrie Underwood

• Brad Paisley

Venue of the year is an off-camera award presented at the annual “ACM Honors” event held in Nashville at a later date. The award is considered a part of the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards and will be voted on by the professional membership of the academy.

The BOK Center will be competing for the award against the following venues:

First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL

Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion – Gilford, NH

Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO

About the Academy of Country Music Awards:

The 46th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 3 on the CBS Television Network. McEntire, who hails from Chockie, and Blake Shelton, who lives in Tishomingo, will co-host the awards show.

-BAM

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