Country Greats Come Together for Storm Relief Benefit

Lady Antebellum

Country music stars are coming together to raise money for those reeling from the effects of the recent floods and tornadoes in the South. The show, CMT One Country, will take place in Nashville this month.

An array of stars will be performing, including Hank Williams, Jr., Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, and Tim McGraw. 100% of the profits from the show will be given to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

The idea for the benefit came from Hank Williams, Jr., who offered his idea to CMT. The renowned country singer said, “I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing on TV. Alabama is home- I am really pumped about helping.”

CMT’s president Brian Phillips adds, “We will raise money, and we will shine the brightest possible light on the urgent needs of our courageous neighbors.”

CMT One Country airs Thursday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET.

Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Justin Bieber all nominated for this year’s CMT awards

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Justin Bieber are all nominated for this year’s Country Music Television (CMT) awards. Lady Antebellum, Taylor and Rascal Flatts lead proceedings with nods in three award categories, while Carrie Underwood is up for two awards. ‘Baby’ singer Justin gets his first ever CMT nomination, for the reworked version of his track ‘That Should Be Me’, featuring Rascal Flatts. The biggest award of the night, Video of the Year, sees Taylor’s ‘Mine’ in contest against tracks by Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.

Taylor’s other two nominations in the viewer voted awards are also for the ‘Mine’ video, which has nods in the Female Video of the Year and Best Web Video of the Year categories.

Taylor has enjoyed phenomenal success since releasing her debut single in 2006, selling over 20 million albums worldwide and touring the world, and she has frequently told how overwhelmed and grateful she is for her success.

She said: “The fact the fans have done that much for me in such a short period of time is unreal, and I’m so excited and so thankful.

“I’ve gotten to experience just parts of the world I never thought I’d get to see, nonetheless play shows in and have the crowds singing the words back to me.” ”

Lady Antebellum’s ‘Hello World’ and Rascal Flatts’ ‘ Why Wait’ will square off against each other in the Video of the Year and Group Video of the Year categories, while the former band’s ‘Stars Tonight’ is also up for Best Web Video of the Year.

The CMT Awards will take place on June 8 in Nashville, Tennessee.

CMT Awards 2011, full list of nominations:

Video of the Year
Jason Aldean – ‘My Kinda Party’
Kenny Chesney – ‘The Boys of Fall’
Lady Antebellum – ‘Hello World’
Miranda Lambert – ‘The House That Built Me’
Rascal Flatts – ‘Why Wait’
Sugarland – ‘Stuck Like Glue’

Taylor Swift – ‘Mine’
The Band Perry – ‘If I Die Young’
Carrie Underwood – ‘Undo It’
Zac Brown Band – ‘Colder Weather’

Male Video of the Year
Jason Aldean – ‘My Kinda Party’
Kenny Chesney – ‘The Boys of Fall’
Toby Keith – ‘Bullets in the Gun’
Blake Shelton – ‘Who Are You When I’m Not Looking’
Keith Urban – ‘Without You’

Female Video of the Year
Sara Evans – ‘A Little Bit Stronger’
Miranda Lambert – ‘The House That Built Me’
Reba McEntire – ‘Turn On the Radio’
Taylor Swift – ‘Mine
Carrie Underwood – ‘Undo It’

Group Video of the Year
Lady Antebellum – ‘Hello World’
Little Big Town – ‘Little White Church’
Rascal Flatts – ‘Why Wait’
The Band Perry – ‘If I Die Young’
Zac Brown Band – ‘Colder Weather’

Duo Video of the Year
Steel Magnolia – ‘Last Night Again’
Sugarland – ‘Stuck Like Glue’
The Civil Wars – ‘Barton Hollow’
The JaneDear Girls – ‘Wildflower’
Thompson Square – ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not’

Breakthrough Video of the Year
Lee Brice – ‘Love Like Crazy’
Aaron Lewis – ‘Country Boy’
Jerrod Niemann – ‘Lover, Lover’
The Band Perry – ‘If I Die Young’
Thompson Square – ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not’

Collaborative Video of the Year
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson – ‘Don’t You Wanna Stay’
Justin Bieber featuring Rascal Flatts – ‘That Should Be Me’
Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow – ‘Collide’
Aaron Lewis featuring George Jones and Charlie Daniels – ‘Country Boy’
Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow – ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’

CMT Performance of the Year
Martina McBride and Train – ‘A Broken Wing’ from CMT Crossroads: Train and Martina McBride
Reba McEntire – ‘If I Were a Boy’ from Unplugged: Reba
Darius Rucker and Adele – ‘Need You Now’ from 2010 CMT Artists of the Year
Keith Urban and John Mayer – ‘Sweet Thing’ from CMT Crossroads: John Mayer and Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett – ‘Margaritaville’ from CMT Crossroads: Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band

Best Web Video of the Year
Jason Aldean – ‘My Kinda Party’ (live from the CMT.com webcast)
Luke Bryan – ‘It’s a Shore Thing’
Lady Antebellum – ‘Stars Tonight’
Blake Shelton – ‘Kiss My Country Ass’
Taylor Swift – ‘Mine’ (live from the Speak Now album release party)

Video Director of the Year
Deaton Flanigen (award-eligible videos include Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow’s ‘Collide’ and the JaneDear Girl’s ‘Wildflower’)
Trey Fanjoy (award-eligible videos include Miranda Lambert’s ‘The House That Built Me’ and Blake Shelton’s ‘Who Are You When I’m Not Looking’)
Chris Hicky (award-eligible videos include Carrie Underwood ‘s ‘Undo It’ and Keith Urban’s ‘Without You’)
David McClister (award-eligible videos include The Band Perry’s ‘If I Die Young’ and LeAnn Rimes’ ‘Swingin”)
Roman White (award-eligible videos include Lady Antebellum’s ‘Hello World’ and Kellie Pickler’s ‘Makin’ Me Fall in Love Again’)

Taylor Swift named Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift was named Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards 2011 in Las Vegas. Taylor won the biggest honour and also performed at the event, while singer Miranda Lambert was the night’s biggest winner, taking home four trophies including Top Female Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year for her track ‘The House That Built Me’.

Accepting her award, Taylor said: “This is the first time that I’ve ever won this and I’m just losing my mind. The fact that this is from the fans makes it so special.”

The night also featured guest performances by Rihanna, who sang her new track ‘California King Bed’ with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, and Steven Tyler, who performed with Carrie Underwood on a duet which saw them take on the latter’s ‘Undo It’ before breaking into Aerosmith’s ‘Walk This Way’.

Lady Antebellum took home two awards, Album of the Year for ‘Need You Now’, Top Vocal Group of the Year while singer and guitarist Brad Paisley was named top male vocalist for the fifth consecutive year.

Academy of Country Music Awards 2011 full list of winners:

Entertainer of the Year – Taylor Swift
Top Male Vocalist of the Year – Brad Paisley
Top Female Vocalist of the Year – Miranda Lambert
Album of the Year – Lady Antebellum ‘Need You Now’
Single Record of the Year – Miranda Lambert ‘The House That Built Me’
New Artist of the Year – The Band Perry
Top Vocal Group of the Year – Lady Antebellum
Top Vocal Duo of the Year – Sugarland
Song of The Year – Miranda Lambert ‘The House That Built Me’
Video of the Year – Miranda Lambert ‘The House That Built Me’
Vocal Event of the Year – Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson ‘As She’s Walking Away’