News | ACM Lifting Lives

Los Angeles, CA (December 8, 2020) – Today, the Academy of Country Music’s® reigning New Male Artist Riley Green and reigning New Female Artist Tenille Townes announced the Industry Award and Studio Recording Award winners via the Academy of Country Music® Facebook. 2020 Industry Awards, 2020 and 2021 Studio Recording Awards along with Special Award recipients (to be announced next Spring) will be honored during the 14^th ACM HONORS™, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 55^th & 56^th ACM Awards. There will not be 2021 Industry Award recipients as eligibility requirements were unable to be met due to the live entertainment shutdown caused by the pandemic. ACM Honors will take place on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. More information to come in early Spring.

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 7, 2020) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today that submissions for the 56^th Academy of Country Music Awards™ are open through January 8, 2021. Categories eligible for submissions include Main Awards, Radio Awards and Video of the Year Award. There will not be 2021 Industry Award recipients as eligibility requirements were unable to be met due to the live entertainment shutdown caused by the pandemic. The 56^th Academy of Country Music Awards™ will broadcast LIVE on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on CBS.

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 1, 2020) – ACM Lifting Lives®, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music® announced today the re-opening of the ACM Lifting Lives® COVID-19 Response Fund, which recently raised $2 million in funds before Giving Tuesday, to be disbursed ahead of the December holidays to those in the Country music community facing financial hardships. The ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund was created in early April 2020 to assist individuals working in the Country music industry who are suffering a financial crisis as a result of the pandemic.

WHO: 55^th ACM Awards® New Male Artist and New Female Artist of the Year winners Riley Green and Tenille Townes will reveal the ACM® Industry and Studio Recording Award winners via the Academy of Country Music® Facebook, on Tuesday, December 8 at 8:00am PT/10:00am CT/11:00am ET.

Los Angeles, CA (November 17, 2020) – ACM Lifting Lives® is announcing a second-year term for the ACM Lifting Lives Officers and announced the newly elected Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 term. Continuing their tenure in office includes Chairman Paul Barnabee, Vice-Chairman Troy Vollhoffer, Vice-President Lorie Lytle, Treasurer Dwight Wiles, and Secretary Taylor Wolf.

Los Angeles, CA (October 15, 2020) - Christie’s announces the full star-studded Country Music line-up for the online auction entitled “NASHVILLE: An Auction to Benefit ACM Lifting Lives® COVID-19 Response Fund” open for bidding October 15-29 on christies.com/Nashville. In addition to the previously announced Swarovski-crystal bedazzled four-string dulcimer owned by Dolly Parton for 30 years, the sale features a stunning black 2018 Gibson acoustic guitar personally inscribed and dated by global superstar Taylor Swift (estimate: $25,000-40,000). The lot includes the original hard-shell case, embroidered Levy guitar strap (pictured) and plectrum caddy containing five personalized Taylor Swift custom guitar picks including one commemorating her 2017 sixth studio album reputation and her record-breaking stadium tour and four commemorating her 2019 seventh studio album Lover. Played during Swift’s live, world premiere debut of her folklore single “betty” at the 2020 ACM Awards show at Nashville’s legendary Grand Ole Opry House, her appearance marked a return to the ACM stage after seven years.

Los Angeles, CA (October 13, 2020) – The Academy of Country Music’s® charitable arm, ACM Lifting Lives® announced the promotion of Taylor Wolf as Manager, ACM Lifting Lives. Wolf joined the Academy under two years ago as Coordinator, ACM Lifting Lives. Her position is based out of the Academy’s office in Encino, CA.

NASHVILLE, TN (September 16, 2020) – Winners have been announced for the 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, a Night of Heart and Hits Live from Nashville. 15-time ACM Award®-winning artist Keith Urban hosted the show featuring three iconic Nashville venues including Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and The Bluebird Cafe. For the first time in ACM Awards history, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood tied for the Academy’s highest honor Entertainer of the Year Award – the first ever tie in that category. This is Rhett’s first win in the Entertainer of the Year category, and Underwood’s third win, making her the most awarded female in the ACM Entertainer of the Year category.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 15, 2020) – PEOPLE, in partnership with the Academy of Country Music® and dick clark productions, announced today that it will be producing and exclusively live-streaming PeopleTV Red Carpet Live: 55th ACM Awards, the official pre-show for the 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™ on Wednesday, September 16 beginning at 7:00PM ET/6:00PM CT/4:00PM PT. The 55^th ACM Awards®, hosted by reigning ACM® Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, will be broadcast on Wednesday, September 16 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on CBS All Access.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 15, 2020) – ACM Lifting Lives® and Christie’s announced today an exciting online-only charity auction entitled ‘NASHVILLE: An Auction to benefit ACM Lifting Lives® COVID-19 Response Fund” led by a Swarovski-crystal bedazzled four-string dulcimer owned by Dolly Parton for 30 years accompanied by its original stand and used by the artist as she celebrated her 50^th Anniversary performing at the Grand Ole Opry in 2019. The dulcimer is estimated at $50,000 ‑ 100,000, and leads a sale featuring items generously donated by country music’s biggest names, including Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Marty Stuart, Bernie Taupin, and Trisha Yearwood.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 14, 2020) – The Academy of Country Music®, dick clark productions and CBS announced today that reigning ACM® Entertainer of the Year, 15-time ACM Award winner and 55^th ACM Awards® host Keith Urban, and international pop icon P!NK will perform the world television premiere of their new single, “One Too Many,” on the 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, a night of heart and hits live from Nashville. The 55^th ACM Awards will be broadcast live Wednesday, Sept. 16 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on CBS All Access.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 14, 2020) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today the winners for the Music Event of the Year, Video of the Year and Songwriter of the Year categories in advance of the 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, a Night of Heart and Hits Live from Nashville, airing on Wednesday, September 16 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and will be available to stream live and on demand on CBS All Access.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 14, 2020) – Academy of Country Music®, dick clark productions and CBS today announced this year’s ACM Entertainer of the Year nominees Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood will kick off the 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™ with a can’t-miss performance featuring a medley of each of their greatest hits. Multiplatinum-selling artist CeCe Winans has been added as presenter. The 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, a Night of Heart and Hits Live from Nashville, will be broadcast on Wednesday, September 16 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on CBS All Access.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 13, 2020) – Academy of Country Music®, dick clark productions and CBS today announced that global superstar and two-time ACM® Entertainer of the Year, Taylor Swift, will return to the ACM Awards® stage for the first time in seven years with a world premiere performance off her record-breaking new album Folklore at the 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, a Night of Heart and Hits Live from Nashville. The nine-time ACM Award-winner will perform from the legendary Grand Ole Opry House. Hosted by reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, the 55^th ACM Awards will be broadcast live on Wednesday, September 16 (8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on CBS All Access.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 12, 2020) – The Academy of Country Music® and dick clark productions announced today that ACM® Entertainer of the Year nominee Luke Combs is partnering with Ford in support of Guitars 4 Vets, an organization that helps veterans cope with PTSD through the healing power of music, and will appear in a special moment leading up to his “55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS” performance at The Bluebird Cafe in the all-new 2021 Ford F-150. Hosted by reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, the 55^th ACM Awards®, a Night of Heart and Hits Live from Nashville, will be broadcast on Wednesday, September 16 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and will be available to stream on demand on CBS All Access.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (September 12, 2020) - The Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 55^th Academy of Country Music Awards™ tonight with the 4941^st consecutive Saturday night broadcast featuring Opry member Mark Wills along with Ashley McBryde, Riley Green and Tenille Townes. The Opry aired on Circle TV and SiriusXM as well as the Opry’s flagship home 650 WSM AM and wsmonline.com.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Sept. 10, 2020) – The Academy of Country Music®, dick clark productions, and Wells Fargo announced today 55th Academy of Country Music Awards™ performer Mickey Guyton will appear in a special moment airing during the telecast to help raise awareness around the issue of hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with Feeding America®, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country, and its network of member food banks, Wells Fargo is turning many of its locations across the country into mobile food distribution centers with the goal of providing 50 million meals* to individuals and families through the Wells Fargo Drive-Up Food Bank program.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 9, 2020) – Academy of Country Music®, dick clark productions and CBS today revealed more must-see performances by Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani, Carrie Underwood, and Trisha Yearwood for the 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, a Night of Heart and Hits Live from Nashville. Also joining the telecast’s all-star lineup are presenters Lauren Alaina, Lily Aldridge, Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black, Bobby Bones, Cam, Darius Rucker and Runaway June. Hosted by reigning ACM® Entertainer of the Year and 15-time ACM Award winner Keith Urban, the 55^TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™ will be broadcast on Wednesday, September 16 (live 8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and will be available to stream live and on demand on CBS All Access.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 8, 2020) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today the lineup for the upcoming episode of “ACM Wine Down Wednesday” Series and “The ACM Weekly.” As previously announced, the latest episode of “ACM Wine Down Wednesday” Series, presented by 1000 Stories® Wine, will feature wine provided by 1000 Stories® Wine, a performance, conversation and stories with recording artist Caylee Hammack. The “ACM Wine Down Wednesday” Series will be live on Hammack’s official Facebook page, as well as the Academy of Country Music® and 1000 Stories® Wine official Facebook pages on Wednesday, September 9 at 6 PM CT. Following Hammack’s performance on Facebook, the latest episode will be featured and available to watch at TheHub.ACMcountry.com for 30 days.

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 3, 2020) – The Academy of Country Music® and dick clark productions announced today that Xfinity will deliver a special performance of Country Music star and ACM Awards® first-time nominee Gabby Barrett’s song “The Good Ones” to Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, and other digital platforms beginning September 7. As previously announced, Barrett will also be performing her No. 1 song “I Hope” from Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium as part of the “55^th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™,” a Night of Heart and Hits Live from Nashville.