The Academy of Country Music took a different approach to naming the nominations for the 2012 ACM Awards, inciting a first-time digital press conference via their Facebook page, as opposed to simply posting a list of hopefuls. With help from folks like Reba McEntire, Lionel Richie, Nancy O’Dell of ‘Entertainment Tonight’ and more, the red carpet was rolled out for this year’s event.

2012 will be a big one for Kenny Chesney if he takes home even half of the awards he’s up for. The ‘You and Tequila’ duet star roped in a total of nine nominations, including several for his collaboration with Grace Potter — as well as Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year.

Jason Aldean came in behind Chesney at six nods — he’s also up for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist and Album of the Year, plus a few for his song ‘Don’t You Wanna Stay’ with pop’s Kelly Clarkson. Lady Antebellum are going strong with five potential awards, while Brad Paisley received four (two in one category!) and Taylor Swift topped the solo females with three nominations to her name.

The Academy’s New Artist of the Year Award nominees are being kept under lock and key until Jan. 30. The 2012 ACM Awards will air live, with Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton as hosts, on April 1 on CBS.

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Source: tasteofcountry.com

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Kenny Chesney led the pack when nominations for the 47th annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced Thursday morning (Jan. 26). Other top nominees included Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, the Eli Young Band and Grace Potter.

Chesney's nominations include entertainer of the year, an award he has won four times since 2004, and male vocalist. With the ACM's tally counting separate nominations for artists who also produce or co-produce their own recordings, he received two nominations each for album of the year (Hemingway's Whiskey) and for the single record and vocal event categories for "You and Tequila," his collaboration with Grace Potter. He's also listed in the song of the year division for "You and Tequila," the hit written by Matraca Berg and Deana Carter. All of Potter's nominations stem from her recording with Chesney.

Aldean is nominated for six awards, including entertainer of the year and male vocalist. His My Kinda Party is up for album of the year, and his collaboration with Kelly Clarkson on "Don't You Wanna Stay" is nominated for single record and vocal event of the year. His "Tattoos on This Town" is also nominated for video of the year.

Lady Antebellum reeled in five nominations, including vocal group of the year, an honor they've won the past two years. Band members Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood are also nominated for album of the year as artists and producers of Own the Night. They also received double nominations in the song and video of the year categories for "Just a Kiss."

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Source: CMT.com

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The Peach Pickers -- the songwriting collective of Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip -- are among the songwriter of the year nominees announced Thursday (Jan. 26) by the Academy of Country Music. In addition to their individual nominations, the field also includes Luke Laird and David Lee Murphy.

Akins, Davidson, Hayslip and Luke Bryan co-wrote Bryan's latest No. 1 single, "I Don't Want This Night to End." Akins' recent credits also include Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee," Rodney Atkins' "Take a Back Road" and Justin Moore's "Bait a Hook." Davidson's catalog includes Shelton's "All About Tonight," Moore's "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away," Bryan's "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)," Josh Turner's "All Over Me" and Lady Antebellum's "Just a Kiss" and "We Owned the Night." In addition to "All About Tonight" and "All Over Me," Hayslip also co-wrote Atkins' "Farmer's Daughter" and Joe Nichols' "Gimmie That Girl" and "The Shape I'm In."

Luke Laird's catalog includes "Take a Back Road," Sara Evans' "A Little Bit Stronger" and Eric Church's "Drink in My Hand."

The 47th annual ACM Awards will take place April 1 in Las Vegas, but the organization's awards for songwriter, musician and other industry categories will be announced this fall during a special ceremony in Nashville.

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Source: CMT.com

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Nominations were announced today for the 2012 Academy Of Country Music Awards and Sara is up for Female Vocalist of the Year!  

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You can't go wrong with an event that mixes celebrity chefs, football and country music. Sara Evans will provide the musical entertainment for Taste of the NFL's 21st annual Party With a Purpose, a food-centric fundraising event held Feb. 4, the evening prior to the Super Bowl.

The event pairs a chef from each NFL city with a current or former NFL player and benefits food pantries across the nation. Former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy, Ted Allen of the Food Network program Chopped and Mauro Castano and Joey Faugno of TLC's Cake Boss are among those expected to attend.

This year's event will be held at the Gleaner's Food Bank in Indianapolis, marking the first time the event has been held at an actual food bank.

 Source: countryweekly.com

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Sara will provide the musical entertainment for Taste of the NFL's 21st annual Party With a Purpose, a food-centric fundraising event held Feb. 4, the evening prior to the Super Bowl.

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@BethBehrs is back again! The nominees for #ACMs Female Vocalist of the Year are… http://say.ly/kVh1jZG

Sara will be the musical guest at the NFL's 21st annual Party With a Purpose! Check out the details here: http://say.ly/vbN1jQd

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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Sara's "My Heart Can't Tell You No" video is on @CMTshows Top 20 Countdown voting ballot! Cast your vote here: http://say.ly/soq1juq

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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CMT is celebrating Valentine’s Day with the brand new Teddy Awards, and Sara's video "A Little Bit Stronger" is up for Best Breakup Video. Vote for Sara, then cast your vote in categories such as steamiest video, best kiss, best use of lingerie and many more. Voting runs through 1/29 and the winners wil be aired on CMT on Valentine's Day at 8am ET and 11am ET.

Vote:  here

Source: SaraEvans.com

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Sara has released her latest novel, Love Lifted Me, from her three-book series. The third book, which was co-written by Rachel Hauck, finds Jade embracing unexpected motherhood when her husband Max gains custody of his young son. This third installment in the story of Jade and Max continues their love affair and the journey that brings their new family together.

Sara's new book is available today on Amazon.com. Check out the USA Today review of Love Lifted Me here

Purchase the book:  here

Source: SaraEvans.com

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Sara's video "A Little Bit Stronger" is up 4 Best Breakup Video @CMTshows new Teddy Awards. Cast ur vote here: http://say.ly/GWT1jcp

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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Have you checked out Sara's new book Love Lifted Me yet? Download some FREE sample chapters here: http://say.ly/raa1i9M

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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We've got new items in the Sara Evans Online Store like "Stronger" Hoodies & "Heart" T-shirts! Check em out: http://say.ly/mRD1hO1

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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Come see me from 11-1 tomorrow at my little sis's store! It's a GREAT store! So proud! Downtown New Franklin, MO.

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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Country's hottest stars are touring this winter, and they've got the elixir for your cabin fever.

Miranda Lambert will be glad to light you a fire, Jason Aldean's always ready to call some rowdy friends over, and the soothing sounds of Lady Antebellum promise to go down like hot cocoa on a cold night.

Meanwhile, Rascal Flatts invite fans inside to thaw out, George Strait and Martina McBride stick to the buddy system and kid-at-heart Brad Paisley reminds everyone how much fun it was to go out and build a snow fort.


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Source: CMT.com

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Personalize your Facebook Cover by supporting Sara! Check out these personalized Facebook Covers here

Source: SaraEvans.com

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A new compilation titled Now That's What I Call Country Ballads will be released on Jan. 24. The 18-track collection begins with the piano version of Taylor Swift's "Forever and Always." The project also includes ballads by Keith Urban ("Tonight I Wanna Cry"), Rascal Flatts ("What Hurts the Most") and The Band Perry ("If I Die Young"). Other artists represented on the album are Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood and Chris Young.

Source: CMT.com

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Have you picked up a copy of Sara's new book Love Lifted Me yet? Check it out here: http://say.ly/koO1fV6

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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Rascal Flatts released a new single, "Banjo," to country radio on Monday (Jan. 9). It's the first release from an album expected this spring on Big Machine Records. "Banjo" will go for airplay impact on Jan. 17. The group's Thaw Out 2012 tour will launch Thursday (Jan. 12) in Charleston, W.Va., with guests Sara Evans and Hunter Hayes ("Storm Warning"). Rascal Flatts' previous album, Nothing Like This, was released in November 2010. That album included the hits "Why Wait," "I Won't Let Go" and "Easy" (with Natasha Bedingfield).

Source: CMT.com

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Sara's video for "My Heart Can't Tell You No" is on @CMTshows Top 20 Countdown voting ballot! Cast your vote here: http://say.ly/GNb1fjQ

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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Check out Sara's recent interview with CMT talking about her new book Love Lifted Me: http://say.ly/wmS1eZM

Check out this @USATODAY review of Sara's new book Love Lifted Me! http://say.ly/qmp1eiL

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.)

Sara Evans really thinks you ought to read her latest book, Love Lifted Me, which she wrote with Rachel Hauck. It's the third in her series about the character Jade Benson. "If you haven't read the book, you need to go read it," she told CMT Radio. "It's very much a story about overcoming, forgiveness, redemption and really understanding the whole idea behind, 'Human beings will always let you down but God never will.'" She also says that her songs tell stories, but that the books do so in a different way, by looking backward while moving forward. "It's about chasing dreams, endless country roads, and tender faith," she said. Evans' own personal life has had its share of chasing dreams (and a few letdowns), so I'm sure she tells this story from her heart.

Source: CMT.com

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Sara recently talked with CMT Offstage about her new book Love Lifted Me.  "If you haven't read the book, you need to go read it," she told CMT Radio. "It's very much a story about overcoming, forgiveness, redemption and really understanding the whole idea behind, 'Human beings will always let you down but God never will.'" She also says that her songs tell stories, but that the books do so in a different way, by looking backward while moving forward. "It's about chasing dreams, endless country roads, and tender faith," she said.

Source: saraevans.com

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Can't wait to see everyone at the Bama Bowl Bash! Sun night in New Orleans! Go to http://collegesportsevents.com! Roll Tide!

Get your tix to see Sara in concert from @tixforcharity & help support some of Sara's favorite charities http://say.ly/pCU1dZm

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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Genre: Inspirational romance

Country music superstar Sara Evans has once again teamed up with award-winning inspirational fiction author Rachel Hauck for the final installment of their Songbird series. Introducing a few new characters into the cast of well-crafted familiars, Love Lifted Me moves the troubled Benson family into a new setting that tests their faith and resolve.

Here's the sitch: Jade Benson's life looks pretty good from the outside. Her vintage clothing store is about to be featured in a magazine, she lives in the beautiful home of her dreams, and she finally has a child to hold in her arms. But not all is what it seems. Her husband, Max, is addicted to prescription drugs and has been away for months at a residential rehab in Texas. The little boy Jade is raising is not her biological son, but the result of a one-night stand Max indulged in right before their wedding, and Jade's own past is littered with pain. Theirs is not a fairy tale romance.

Max has now completed the rehab program and is ready to come home and resume his life, but Jade isn't sure what to expect. She wants her marriage to survive, but trust is something that must be earned – and love, once damaged, must be proved true before she can let herself believe in it again.

When Max receives an unexpected offer to take over a troubled football program at a Texas high school, Jade is torn. She doesn't want to abandon the Tennessee town she has grown to love, nor the business she has fought to build, but she knows she must surrender her heart to God – and eventually to her husband – if her little family is going to survive. Texas – and football – might be the fresh start Jade and Max need to fall in love again.

Hits & misses: The story is told from alternating points of view of Max and Jade, allowing the reader to empathize with both characters' struggles, failings and fears. Hauck and Evans don't pussy-foot around issues of relational dysfunction and pain, nor do they pour glitter over the results of their characters' past mistakes. Instead, the authors get into the head and heart of betrayal and shame to carve out a timid path toward forgiveness. The result is a touching and emotive love story that sizzles with passion even while the characters remain believably gun-shy about fully giving their hearts – whether it be to each other or to a calling.

This story is fine as a stand-alone novel, but readers will have a much better appreciation for the rutted road that split Max and Jade apart if they read the preceding Songbird novels (The Sweet By & By and Softly and Tenderly) before diving into this one.

To read or not to read: With echoes of Remember the Titans and We Are Marshall resounding throughout the well-written football scenes, Hauck and Evans engage even the most football-illiterate of readers into the relational metaphor of overcoming the past by fighting for a fresh win. Love Lifted Me is a beautiful story of hope tackling betrayal and love manning up to win the game.

A writer, performer and accomplished partaker of dark chocolate, Serena Chase lives in Iowa with her husband and two daughters. Her reviews can also be found at the blog  Edgy Inspirational Romance.

Source: CMT.com

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Sara's new book "Love Lifted Me" is available in bookstores TODAY! You can also get your copy online here: http://say.ly/wjB1dmw

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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This week, Sara Evans‘ latest novel titled ‘Love Lifted Me’ is available. Like her previous two books, ‘Love Lifted Me’ was written by Evans, along with co-writer Rachel Hauck. The book is the third novel in Evans’ Songbird Series. The first two novels — ‘The Sweet By and By’ and ‘Softly and Tenderly’ — were released in 2009 and 2011, respectively.

This new third installment in the series continues the storyline of husband and wife Max and Jade, but also works well as a stand-alone novel for those new to the books.

The new novel is based around the lead character, Jade Benson, who feels she can never really trust her husband, Max, again. Max cheated on Jade with her best friend, Rose, and fathered a baby as a result from the affair. Rose goes on to die in a tragic airplane accident, and Max brings the young toddler into their home to live.

Two-year-old Asa quickly becomes the brightest spot in Jade’s life. Despite how the boy was brought into the world, Jade loves her husband’s son as if he was her own child. However, the rug gets pulled out from under Jade once again when she finds out that Max really isn’t Asa’s dad, and the biological father is well aware of the situation. Jade has survived infidelity, miscarriage, and major damage to her shop by an out-of-control car, but losing Asa could very well be the thing that destroys her.

‘Love Lifted Me,’ as well as Evans’ previous two novels, can be ordered through Amazon

Source:  tasteofcountry.com

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Happy New Year!!!!!!! http://say.ly/fmT1cQ5

Source: twitter.com/saraevansmusic

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(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.)

This was one of those be-careful-what-you-wish-for years. As in, you wish so hard that you could just get this artist alone so you could ask all the really crucial questions on your mind, and then, voila: You get that opportunity. Every time I had the chance to interview a country star this year, just the two of us, I was worried it would turn out like Saturday Night Live's old skit about the Chris Farley Show. ("'Member that song you sang? That was awesome.") Thankfully, these 10 interviews did not turn out that way.

1. Tim McGraw: We were backstage at an amphitheater outside Chicago. We stood, because he had a broken foot and a cane, and said he was more comfortable standing. We talked about that broken foot, but more importantly, he opened up about how shy he is, how great he has it and the way he likes to make music.

2. Jason Aldean: Another one that took place backstage at a venue near Chicago. I'd interviewed Aldean before, going way back to the days when nobody had heard of him. But this chat was a standout because he talked about so much and talked for so long. So long, in fact, his manager had to come in and remind him he had a show to do.

3. Toby Keith: I'd never met Keith. Never had a phone interview with him. Never got 60 seconds with him on a red carpet. So in my mind, we had a lot of catching up to do. But we only had a few minutes, in the basement of a Chicago liquor store, and he is a man of few words. He was there to promote his Wild Shot Mezcal, but I got him to talk about a little bit more than just how he takes his reposado.

4. Sara Evans: Sometimes the setting of an interview is absolutely essential to its success. You want the artist to be comfortable. So when I had the opportunity to talk with Evans alone in her room at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago, I jumped at the chance. It's one of those interviews that when I listen back to the recording, I can't believe how honest and open she was. Maybe she's always like that, but I think the cozy hotel room helped.

5. Sunny Sweeney: When Sweeney was in Chicago to perform at Joe's Bar, we caught up in the tiny upstairs green room. We definitely talked about her music because this was right when "From a Table Away" was starting to climb up into the Top 10. But, we talked beauty tips, too. Like how her super blond hair is streaked with black, and she showed me all seven of her tattoos.

6. Martina McBride: We were somewhere west of Cleveland, I think. And we were in a lounge car with floor-to-ceiling windows and a spectacular view aboard her Amtrak train to promote her Eleven album. That's what it was. But here's what it actually felt like: two girlfriends sitting at the kitchen table talking about their kids, their working-mom realities, their futures and their love of good country music. All we were missing was a bottle of wine.

7. Sugarland: Kristian Bush was kind enough to let us have this talk in his makeshift dressing room backstage at a Chicago venue. So the three of us sat on the couch and talked first about all of Bush's fedoras lined up on the road cases. Then we moved on to talk about our first loves, our last downloads and our shared love of the 1988 soundtrack for She's Having a Baby. Bush, for those of you who don't know, is a walking music encyclopedia.

8. Dierks Bentley: I was watching Bentley's ACM rehearsal at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and once he was done, he came out to the seats in the arena to sit and talk with me. He was, however, breathless. He'd been singing his "Am I the Only One" while he ran up the steps in the first tier of seats, two at a time. So we chatted about that move and how he likes to raise a little hell after every show.

9. Little Big Town: This is how you know when a country group has gone from being a band to being your friends: Jimi Westbrook offered to help me get my bad tattoo from Las Vegas properly fixed. He apparently has a guy. We were backstage before one of their Chicago shows, and after we chatted about their music and their tight knit way of life, the talk turned to ink. He hasn't taken me to his guy yet, but if I ever get the nerve to go under the needle again, Westbrook will be the one I call.

10. Trace Adkins: I think we were in a closet of some sort. Adkins and I talked in a tiny room off the side of the stage right after his October show at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago. Cramped quarters aside, I could've listened to him all night. He and I agreed that once you have kids, all the pop music starts to sound nasty. (He admitted he doesn't want his kids listening to his music either, but that that's different because, as he said, "I don't make music for kids.")

Source: CMT.com

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