ACM Awards: Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan to Host and More

Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will co-host tonight's show.

By
HUNTER KELLY
April 19, 2015, 4:48 AM ET
4 min read

— -- Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan are back for a third turn as co-hosts of tonight's ACM Awards, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Instead of airing from its traditional locale in Las Vegas, this year's big anniversary show broadcasts live from the 60,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and the hosts want viewers to know it's taken a lot of planning to get to this point.

"Some of the people in charge showed me and [co-host] Blake [Shelton] plans of it the first year we hosted, so this hasn't been just a snap your fingers and make this thing happen. They've worked hard," Luke Bryan said.

The talent lineup will be just as impressive as the massive production elements producers have in store for Sunday night's show.

"It's gonna be the biggest stars in country music, and when I say biggest stars, I mean from past, present, future," said Shelton. "It's all gonna come together."

So, why are the ACM Awards organizers allowing Bryan and Shelton to come back and emcee the entire evening?

"We're the only two in country music that can read. I'm telling you!" joked Shelton. "Have you met some of these artists? God almighty. Idiots."

The two co-hosts are also set to perform on the ACM Awards along with Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Reba, George Strait, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town. Rascal Flatts will sing a duet with Christina Aguilera, and Dan + Shay are teaming up with Nick Jonas. New artist nominees Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and Sam Hunt are also performing.

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Here are the nominees for the 50th Annual ACM Awards:

Entertainer of the Year

  • Jason Aldean
  • Garth Brooks
  • Luke Bryan
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Florida Georgia Line

    • Female Vocalist of the Year

  • Brandy Clark
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Martina McBride
  • Kacey Musgraves
  • Carrie Underwood

    • New Artist of the Year

  • Sam Hunt
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Cole Swindell

    • Album of the Year

  • Old Boots, New Dirt, Jason Aldean
  • Pain Killer, Little Big Town
  • Platinum, Miranda Lambert
  • Riser, Dierks Bentley
  • The Outsiders, Eric Church

    • Song of the Year (Award to Songwriter)

  • "American Kids," Kenny Chesney
  • "Automatic," Miranda Lambert
  • "Drink a Beer," Luke Bryan
  • "Follow Your Arrow," Kacey Musgraves
  • "Give Me Back My Hometown," Eric Church
  • "I Hold On," Dierks Bentley

    • Single Record of the Year

  • "American Kids," Kenny Chesney
  • "Automatic," Miranda Lambert
  • "Dirt," Florida Georgia Line
  • "Drunk on a Plane," Dierks Bentley
  • "I Don't Dance," Lee Brice

    • Vocal Group of the Year

  • Lady Antebellum
  • Little Big Town
  • Rascal Flatts
  • The Band Perry
  • Zac Brown Band

    • Vocal Duo of the Year

  • Brothers Osborne
  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Maddie & Tae
  • The Swon Brothers

    • Vocal Event of the Year

  • "Lonely Tonight," Blake Shelton featuring Ashley Monroe
  • "Meanwhile Back at Mama's," Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill
  • "Somethin' Bad," Miranda Lambert Duet with Carrie Underwood
  • "The South," The Cadillac Three featuring Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley and Mike Eli
  • "This Is How We Roll," Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan

    • Video of the Year

  • "American Kids," Kenny Chesney
  • "Cop Car," Keith Urban
  • "Drunk on a Plane," Dierks Bentley
  • "I'm Not Gonna Miss You," Glen Campbell
  • "Somethin' Bad," Miranda Lambert Duet with Carrie Underwood