News | ACM Lifting Lives

Encino, CA (April 6, 2018) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today the launch of the official 2018 ACM Awards® App and merchandise in advance of the 53^RD ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™, honoring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent. The 53^rd ACM Awards®, hosted by Reba McEntire, will broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

WHAT: The Academy of Country Music® will present a songwriter event, ACM Stories, Songs & Stars, on Friday, April 13, 2018 at The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino as part of the 6^th Annual ACM Party for a Cause®. An upscale evening modeled after an old-fashioned guitar pull, ACM Stories, Songs & Stars will feature 53rd ACM Awards® Songwriter of the Year nominees – ranging from the most commercially successful to the most critically-acclaimed composers – alongside some of the biggest names in country music performing the songs they composed, telling the stories behind how those collaborations came together. The celebration will also highlight surprise performers sharing the stories behind their biggest hits.

Eleven-time ACM Award winner Charles Kelley of multi-platinum trio Lady Antebellum, and multi-platinum country music star Darius Rucker will host the first-ever ACM Lifting Lives® Topgolf Tee-Off on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Topgolf Las Vegas at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino as part of the 6^th Annual ACM Party for a Cause®.  Attendees will have the unique opportunity to take in LIVE performances from the hottest new talent in country music and play golf, while country artists compete in a tournament of golf skills.

LAS VEGAS – MARCH 28, 2018 – To honor those lost or affected by the tragic events of 1 October, Nathan Adelson Hospice, Southern Nevada’s largest non-profit hospice organization, will host a free, commemorative butterfly release ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 8 at the Las Vegas Community Healing Garden, highlighted by a special performance by country music legend, Collin Raye.

ENCINO, CA (March 15, 2018) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today that Lauren Alaina, Rhett Akins, Rodney Atkins, Kristian Bush, Cam, Lindsay Ell, Chris Janson, LOCASH, Scotty McCreery, Midland, Parmalee, Eric Paslay, RaeLynn, Cole Swindell, Chris Young and more have been added to the musical lineup for the 6^th Annual ACM Party for a Cause®. More than 80 of country music’s most celebrated artists and emerging talents will all perform at select venues across the Las Vegas Strip April 12-15, 2018.

February 26, 2018 – Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities, has received a $150,000 grant from ACM Lifting Lives®, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, to bring its Bedside Performance Program to patients, families and caregivers in Las Vegas. Musicians On Call’s Bedside Performance Program brings live, in-room performances by Volunteer Musicians to patients undergoing treatment or unable to leave their beds. Since 1999, Musicians On Call has performed for over 625,000 patients, families and caregivers in 17 major markets across the country.  This will be the first ongoing Musicians On Call programming taking place in Las Vegas at Sunrise Health System hospitals.

ENCINO, CA (February 20, 2018) – The Academy of Country Music® announced the full schedule of events and performances for the 6th Annual ACM Party for a Cause® set to take place at select venues across the Las Vegas Strip on April 12-15, 2018. More than 40 of country music’s most celebrated artists as well as emerging talents have been revealed today as performers, including headlining artists Kelsea Ballerini, Lee Brice, Chris Lane, Kip Moore, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, and Chase Rice.

ENCINO, CA (February 14, 2018) – The Academy of Country Music® will present a songwriter event, ACM Stories, Songs & Stars, on Friday, April 13, 2018 at The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino as part of the 6th Annual ACM Party for a Cause®. Country music’s most distinguished songwriters and celebrated artists including Lee Brice, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, and Thomas Rhett have been revealed today as performers for the special event. Additional performers and attendees, including ACM Songwriter of the Year nominees, will be announced in the coming weeks. Portions of event proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives®, which works to lift lives through the power of music.

ENCINO, CA (January 25, 2018) – The Academy of Country Music® announced today that eleven-time ACM Award winner Charles Kelley of multi-platinum trio Lady Antebellum, and multi-platinum country music star Darius Rucker will host the first-ever ACM Lifting Lives® Topgolf Tee-Off on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Topgolf Las Vegas at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino during the highly-anticipated 6th Annual ACM Party for a Cause®.

ENCINO, CA (January 23, 2018) – The Academy of Country Music® announced exciting details about The Week Vegas Goes Country®, including a schedule of events and on-sale ticket information for the 6th Annual ACM Party for a Cause® to be held Thursday, April 12 – Sunday, April 15, 2018.  This year’s ACM Party for a Cause will consist of fan events across the Las Vegas Strip leading up to and immediately following the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, which will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Encino, CA (January 18, 2018) – The Academy of Country Music® is announcing new hires in four departments, including new Assistant, Creative & Content and Marketing departments Bridget Cirone; Coordinator, Events Lanni Gagnon; Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships Jen Heaton; and Coordinator, Awards & Membership Carrie Tekautz. All positions are based out the Academy’s headquarters in Encino, CA.

ENCINO, CA (December 7, 2017) – ACM Lifting Lives® announced its 2017 fall grant cycle beneficiaries today with grants totaling more than $260,000 for a selection of organizations including Barefoot Republic, Inc., Camp Sunshine Inc., COPD Foundation, CreatiVets, El Paso Symphony Orchestra Assn., Inc., Every Child Counts, Follow Your Heart Arts Program, Inc., Foundations of Music, Girls Rock Santa Barbara, High Hopes Development Center, Legacy Music Alliance, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Middle Tennessee State University Foundation, Music for Seniors, Music Mends Minds, Musicians on Call, Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc., Operation Song, Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Washington, Porter’s Call, Rocketown of Middle Tennessee, St. Anna's Episcopal Church, Tennessee Alliance for Kids, The Quest Center for Art & Community Development and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Partnerships with artists and generous giving from fans and the Nashville community enable ACM Lifting Lives to provide funding to organizations that share the same mission, and strive to improve lives through the power of music.

Encino, CA (December 7, 2017) – ACM Lifting Lives® featured Grammy nominated vocal group Little Big Town in a house concert benefiting MUSIC & MEMORY℠ on Thursday, November 16, 2017.  Philanthropists Johnathon and Newman Arndt graciously hosted an intimate evening of music at their Nashville estate with ticket proceeds going to Music & Memory — a fast growing non-profit organization that uses music to change the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive challenges.

ENCINO, CA (November 13, 2017) – ACM Lifting Lives® is announcing its board of directors for the 2017 - 2018 term, including newly elected Chairman Debbie Carroll, President Tree Paine, Vice-President Paul Barnabee, and Secretary Tommy Moore. Dwight Wiles continues his role as Treasurer.

Encino, CA (October 19, 2017) –  ACM Lifting Lives® announced today a donation of $250,000 to three key organizations in support of those affected by the recent Las Vegas tragedy.

Encino, CA (October 10, 2017) – The Academy of Country Music® is announcing its newly elected officers for the 2017-2018 term and a $500,000 contribution to ACM Lifting Lives®. Ticket proceeds from several events held across Las Vegas in April will serve ACM Lifting Lives ongoing mission to improve lives through the power of music. Past philanthropic works have ranged from disaster relief and helping communities in need, to music education in schools and music camps for those with disabilities, to supporting programs that use music therapy as a means to help our veterans and wounded warriors, while providing grants to help them ease back into life – and much, much more. Newly elected officers of the board become effective in November.

ENCINO, CA (September 6, 2017) – ACM Lifting Lives®, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music, today announced a call for submissions for the 2017 Grant Cycle. Through grant cycles, ACM Lifting Lives provides funding to programs that promote education and healing with a musical connection.

Encino, CA (July 12, 2017) – Representatives from Stoney’s Rockin’ Country recently stopped by the Academy of Country Music® office in Los Angeles with a surprise $17,819 contribution to ACM Lifting Lives® from the ACM Party for a Cause® events held in March and April in Las Vegas. Ticket proceeds from the Stoney’s Rockin’ Country events, including the ACM After Party for a Cause at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country and the ACM Party for a Cause: Tailgate Party presented by Country Rebel at Stoney's Rockin’ Country, will serve ACM Lifting Lives ongoing mission to improve lives through the power of music. Past ACM Lifting Lives philanthropic works have ranged from disaster relief and helping communities in need, to music education in schools and music camps for those with disabilities, to supporting programs that use music therapy as a means to help our veterans and wounded warriors, while providing grants to help them ease back into life – and much, much more.

Encino, CA (June 28, 2017) – The 8^th Annual ACM Lifting Lives® Music Camp was in session this week in Nashville, Tenn. with campers from around the country participating in a week of activities and excursions around Music City. Closing out the last few days of Music Camp, the campers enjoyed an unforgettable experience with Kelsea Ballerini, Ross Copperman, and a huge grand finale performance with Chris Young at the Grand Ole Opry®. 

The 8^th Annual ACM Lifting Lives® Music Camp is in session this week in Nashville, Tenn. with campers from around the country participating in a week of activities and excursions around Music City. The residential camp has the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome while providing music enrichment through performance and education.