Festivities started on Sunday with the annual ACM Motorcycle Ride for charity, hosted by MONTGOMERY GENTRY.
After the ride, country superstars took to the stage at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas for a free concert to kick-off the ACM Awards.
Performers included Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar, Trent Tomlinson, Keith Anderson, Little Texas, Emerson Drive, Craig Morgan, Trick Pony, James Otto, Big Kenny, Carolina Rain, Ray Scott, Heidi Newfield, Halfway to Hazard, Whiskey Falls, Rowdy and Memarie, among others.
Gretchen played a set with special guests Big and Rich and Heart's Nancy Wilson.
The 42nd Annual Country Music Awards airs tonight t 8 p.m. on CBS live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with REBA hosting.
Nominee milestones include:
- George Strait leads with 8 nominations.
- Brooks & Dunn receive 7 nominations.
- Rascal Flatts receives 6 nominations.
- American Idol Carrie Underwood receives 5 nominations.
- Big & Rich receives 4 nominations.
- Vince Gill, Josh Turner and Gretchen Wilson all receive 3 nominations.
And the nominees are:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Brooks & Dunn
• Kenny Chesney
• Tim McGraw
• Rascal Flatts
• George Strait
TOP MALE VOCALIST
• Kenny Chesney
• Toby Keith
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Keith Urban
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
• Sara Evans
• Faith Hill
• Miranda Lambert
• Martina McBride
• Carrie Underwood
TOP VOCAL GROUP
• Diamond Rio
• Emerson Drive
• Little Big Town
• Lonestar
• Rascal Flatts
TOP VOCAL DUO
• Big & Rich
• Brooks & Dunn
• Montgomery Gentry
• Sugarland
• The Wreckers
TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
• Rodney Atkins
• Craig Morgan
• Chris Young
TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
• Miranda Lambert
• Kellie Pickler
• Taylor Swift
TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP
• Heartland
• Little Big Town
• The Wreckers
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
• Hillbilly Deluxe - Brooks & Dunn (Arista Nashville)
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
#3 Produced by Mark Wright, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks
# 6 Original demo produced by Kix Brooks, Tom Shapiro, Bob DiPiero
• It Just Comes Natural - George Strait (MCA Nashville)
Produced by Tony Brown, George Strait
• Me and My Gang - Rascal Flatts (Lyric Street Records)
Produced by Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts
• Some Hearts - Carrie Underwood (19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records)
#1, 2, 4, 7, 10 & 13 Produced by Mark Bright
#3, 6, 8, 9, 11 & 12 Produced by Dann Huff
• These Days - Vince Gill (MCA Nashville)
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
• Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood, Produced by Mark Bright
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records
• Give It Away
George Strait, Produced by Tony Brown, George Strait
MCA Nashville
• I Loved Her First
Heartland, Produced by Walt Aldridge
Lofton Creek Records
• What Hurts the Most
Rascal Flatts, Produced by Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street Records
• Would You Go With Me
Josh Turner, Produced by Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville
SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• Amarillo Sky
Jason Aldean
Writers: John Rich, Big Kenny, Rodney Clawson, Bart Pursley
Publishers: © 2005 Rich Texan Music (ASCAP), Bound For Sound Music (ASCAP) All
rights admin. By WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) Big Love Music (BMI) Admin. By Carol
Vincent and Associates. Grinnin’ Girl Music (BMI) Bar Two Beat One Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood
Writers: Chris Tompkins, Josh Kear
Publishers: That Little House Music (ASCAP)/ Mighty Underdog Music/Sony/ATV Cross
Keys Publishing (ASCAP)
• Give It Away
George Strait
Writers: Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson
Publishers: © 2006 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., admin. by Sony/ATV
Music Publishing (BMI); Run Slow Music, admin. By ICG (ASCAP); EMI Blackwood
Music Inc. (BMI)
• If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)
Rodney Atkins
Writers: Sam and Annie Tate, Dave Berg
Publishers: Gravitron Music, SESAC, Whaddayadef Music, Cal IV Songs, Bergbrain Music,
ASCAP
• Would You Go With Me
Josh Turner
Writers: Shawn Camp, John Scott Sherrill
Publishers: © 2005 Sony/ATV Songs LLC/All Mighty Dog Music/Travelin' Arkansawyer
Music, admin. By Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Sony/ATV Songs LLC/All Mighty Dog
Music/City Wolf Music, admin. By Sony/ATV Music Publishing (BMI)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• 8th of November - Big & Rich
Producer: Steve Lamar
Director: George Flanigen, Robert Deaton, Marc Oswald
• Amarillo Sky - Jason Aldean
Producer: Brittany Hailes
Director: Wes Edwards
• Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White
• Hillbilly Deluxe - Brooks & Dunn
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld
Director: Michael Salomon
• The Seashores of Old Mexico - George Strait
Producer: Shelli Jury
Director: Trey Fanjoy
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
• Building Bridges - Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville
• I Don't Want To - Ashley Monroe & Ronnie Dunn
Produced by Mark Wright
Columbia Nashville
• Me and God - Josh Turner featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley and Marty Roe, Dana Williams and
Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio
Produced by Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville
• Politically Uncorrect - Gretchen Wilson featuring Merle Haggard
Produced by Gretchen Wilson, John Rich and Mark Wright
Columbia Nashville
• That's How They Do It In Dixie - Hank Williams Jr. with Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and
Van Zant
Produced by Doug Johnson for Curb Productions
Curb Records
