BRANTLEY GILBERT PERFORMS FOR SOLD-OUT ARENAS DURING HELL ON WHEELS TOUR

Reigning ACM New Male Vocalist Now Vying For New Artist of the Year Title




Brantley Gilbert interacts with rowdy fans at his sold-out show in Morgantown, WV.
Photo Credit: Justin Nolan Key

NASHVILLE, TN (February 19, 2013): Brantley Gilbert kicked off the second leg of his HELL ON WHEELS TOUR with a bang. Having already performed to seven sold-out arenas in Kansas City, MO; Lincoln, NE; Mankato, MN; Corbin, KY; Morgantown, WV; Augusta, GA and Chattanooga, TN, Gilbert is ramping up to perform two more shows this weekend. He and special guest Kip Moore will perform to full houses in Tulsa, OK (2/22) and Thackerville, OK (2/23).

Music critics have noted the close connection Brantley maintains with his fans during the live performances:

The Kansas City Star notes, “…what he does say in his blue-collar way resonates with fans, an even mix of males and females, from their 20s to their 40s. That big crowd hooted and hollered and sang through much of it, from the love ballads like “Saving Amy” to the Southern rock anthems like ’G.R.I.T.S.’”

Gilbert’s set includes an array of music from his rowdy hits “Country Must Be Country Wide” and “Kick It In The Sticks” to the softer #1 “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” and “More Than Miles.” Fans have also been treated to a few new songs, slated for Gilbert’s next album later this year.

While still reeling from an exciting run of shows, Gilbert was named the Academy of Country Music (ACM) New Male Vocalist of The Year. The honor places him in the running for New Artist of the Year, vying for the spot against the New Female Vocalist of The Year and New Group/Duo Vocalist of The Year. Fan voting begins on Monday (3/25) via www.voteacm.com. The winner will be announced live during the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which air on Sunday (4/7) on CBS at 8:00p ET/ delayed PT.
 

2013 Academy of Country Music Awards Events Announced!

BLAKE SHELTON AND LUKE BRYAN TO CO-HOST 48th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC® AWARDS TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013 ON CBS

BRAD PAISLEY TO HOST 3rd ANNUAL ACM FAN JAM REMOTE INTO THE 48th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS & POST-AWARDS CONCERT FROM THE ORLEANS ARENA IN LAS VEGAS SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2013

ACM TV SPECIAL TAPING AT THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013 TO AIR AT A FUTURE DATE ON CBS

THE WEEK VEGAS GOES COUNTRY™ WILL FEATURE THE RETURN OF THE ACM EXPERIENCE & MORE!

TICKETS FOR ALL PUBLIC EVENTS ON SALE JANUARY 25, 2013!

ENCINO, Calif., -- Superstars Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will co-host Country Music's Party of the Year®, the 48^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, honoring country music's best and introducing the industry's hottest emerging talent, broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7 ^th, 2013 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network . The show is produced by dick clark productions, inc.  This year's show will mark reigning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year Shelton's third consecutive turn hosting the Awards and Bryan's first time hosting a LIVE televised event.

Brad Paisley will host the 3^rd Annual ACM Fan Jam, taking place at The Orleans Arena Sunday, April 7 ^th, 2013 . This live remote location gives country music lovers the ultimate fan-pass to be a part of the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards!  Throughout the three-hour Awards telecast from MGM Grand, there will be live ACM Fan Jam performances, via remote from The Orleans Arena, by Brad Paisley and other top-tier music acts.  The ACM Fan Jam continues after the Awards telecast ends, with performances by Brad Paisley and friends. Details and other participating talent will be announced soon but fans can tweet to unlock a special message from Brad, delivered to them immediately after they tweet, by visiting the ACM Social Splash page at www.ACMsocialsplash.com .
As they have done for the past four years, the Academy and dick clark productions will once again tape an all-star concert TV special Monday, April 8, 2013 at 7:00 PM at the MGM Grand Garden Arena , featuring today's top country acts and more.  Talent announcements are forthcoming.  The special will air later on CBS and ticket proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives.
Country music fans "unlocked" this press release in the first-ever ACM "Tweet to Unlock" promotion, wherein fans were invited to send a minimum of 25,000 tweets before the date and host information would be released to the public.  Fans were alerted to the opportunity on Friday, and reached the 25,000 threshold in just less than 4 days.
The Academy will announce its full schedule of The Week Vegas Goes Country™ events in the coming weeks, which will include The ACM Experience , to be held April 5-7, 2013 at The Orleans Hotel and Casino.  In its sophomore year, this free, family-friendly open-to-the-public country music lifestyle event will once again feature LIVE country music performances, interactive games and dance competitions, the ACM Expo a shopper's paradise and country marketplace, and much, much more to be announced.
For event updates, ticket on-sale dates and hotel information, please visit www.ACMcountry.com.  Country fans may sign up for the ACM A-List for FREE at www.ACMcountry.com.  ACM A-Listers will receive the ticket purchase pre-sale code and information on discounted room rates at MGM Grand and The Orleans Hotel and Casino, based on availability.
ACM PROFESSIONAL MEMBER TICKET ON-SALE : Professional Members of the ACM can purchase tickets beginning at 10:00 AM (PT) Wednesday, January 23, 2013 by visiting www.ACMawards.com.
ACM A-LIST MEMBER TICKET PRE-SALE:  ACM A-List Members can purchase tickets in a special pre-sale beginning at 10:00 AM (PT) Wednesday, January 23, 2013 through Friday, January 25, 2013 by visiting www.ACMawards.com. The pre-sale code will be emailed to all A-List Members prior to the on-sale date. 
GENERAL PUBLIC TICKET ON-SALE : Tickets will go on-sale to the general public at 10:00 AM (PT) Friday, January 25, 2013 at www.ACMawards.com. 
For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events, visit www.ACMcountry.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at @ACMawards for more immediate updates! 
Media credential applications to cover the Awards in Las Vegas will become available in early February, details to be posted at www.ACMcountry.com.
About the Academy of Country Music Awards
The 48^th 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 Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.  Allen Shapiro, Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers.  Barry Adelman is producer, and Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music. 
SOURCE Academy of Country Music