Country Music Channel

Television Subscription and International
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Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC), Australia’s only destination for country music announced today, voting for The 6th Annual CMC Music Awards opens Monday January 11. Go to countrymusicchannel.com.au for the full list of nominees.

The CMC Music Awards are the only viewer voted country music awards in the southern hemisphere, giving fans the opportunity to vote for their favourite Australian and International country artists over eight categories: CMC International Artist Of The Year, CMC Male Oz Artist Of The Year, CMC Female Oz Artist Of The Year, CMC New Oz Artist Of The Year, CMC Group or Duo Of The Year, CMC Oz Video Of The Year, CMC International Video Of The Year and the major award, CMC Oz Artist Of The Year.

The CMC Music Awards celebrate country music in Australia and acknowledge the contribution musicians make to Australian fans. Testament to the strength of the country music industry and reflective of its ever- growing fan base in Australia, the CMC Oz Artist of the Year award boasts 30 nominees, combining Male, Female and Group or Duo categories.

Five-time award winner and the 2015 Oz Artist of the Year Adam Brand is nominated for three categories as well as 2015 Female Oz Artist of the Year Amber Lawrence and face of CMC and host of the awards, Morgan Evans who took out 2015 Male Oz Artist of the Year.

Also nominated and performing at the 2016 CMC Music Awards are international guests, country music superstar Jason Aldean, the world’s hottest country music duo Florida Georgia Line and rising country star Kelsea Ballerini who all make their first trip to Australia.

Aussie country music star Adam Harvey, who is set to perform at the CMC Awards for the first time is nominated in two categories.

The 6th Annual CMC Music Awards hosted by Morgan Evans will take place at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on Thursday March 10, 2016 where the winners are announced and broadcast LIVE on Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC) and encored on FOX8.

Every vote for The 6th Annual CMC Music Awards puts you in the draw for the major prize, a trip to the 2016 CMC Music Awards and CMC Rocks QLD in March. Full Terms & Conditions are on the website.

The CMC Music Awards kick off a star studded week in country music in Australia with CMC Rocks QLD 2016, country and roots biggest music event, to follow. Now in its ninth year CMC Rocks is the largest international country music festival in the southern hemisphere held over three days and nights, March 11, 12 and 13 at Willowbank near Ipswich and will telecast on CMC.

Tickets for CMC Rocks QLD 2016 are selling fast and are available at: cmcrocks.com

Foxtel and CMC are proud to partner with Tourism and Events Queensland to bring the CMC Music Awards to Queensland. CMC Music Awards and CMC Rocks QLD are part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, showcasing Australia’s best live events in spectacular destinations.

Tickets for the awards are on sale now at www.qpac.com.au or 136 246. For more information regarding the CMC Music Awards go to www.countrymusicchannel.com.au

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###6th Annual CMC Music Awards

Thursday 10 March at 8.30pm AEST

KELSEA BALLERINI TO CO-HOST WITH MORGAN EVANS

SHANE NICHOLSON & BECCY COLE JOIN STELLAR PERFORMANCE LINE-UP

Foxtel and Country Music Channel (CMC), Australia’s only destination for country music, are thrilled to announce rising new star KELSEA BALLERINI to co-host The 6th Annual CMC Music Awards with CMC ambassador MORGAN EVANS.

Hailed as “Country’s Next Queen” by Billboard, KELSEA BALLERINI, makes her first international tour to Australia to perform and co-host the awards.

“I’ve heard that the country music community in Australia is so incredible, and to witness it first hand, is something I have been looking forward to”, said the Black River Entertainment recording artist.

“I’m so excited to celebrate country music with Morgan and all the artists at the CMC Music Awards this year”, Kelsea continued. “It’s my first time hosting … wish me luck!”

Foxtel and CMC today also announced the final two performers; local favourites SHANE NICHOLSON and BECCY COLE who will join the line-up of performing first class international and local artists, including country music superstar JASON ALDEAN, the hottest country act FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE who hit Australian soil for the first time and rounding up the line-up, Australia’s own ADAM HARVEY who all perform LIVE at The 6th Annual CMC Music Awards.

The CMC Music Awards will take place at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on Thursday March 10 and broadcast live on Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC) at 8.30pm AEST and encored on FOX8, Sunday March 13 at 4.30pm AEST.

Kelsea Ballerini first launched to stardom with the release of her # 1, GOLD-certified debut “Love Me Like You Mean It” and follow-up, Top 10-and-climbing single “Dibs.” She is the first solo female artist in nine years to hit # 1 with her debut country single and is one of only 11 women to have ever hit the top of the charts with a debut release. Following the release of her debut album THE FIRST TIME (Black River Entertainment), the talented singer/songwriter topped multiple 2015 Year-End lists and racked up her first CMT, CMA and AMA award nominations. Most recently earning a pair of nominations for the upcoming ACM awards (Female Vocalist of the Year & New Female Vocalist of the Year), she received Billboard’s “Rising Star” award at the prestigious 2015 Women In Music event.

Brisbane born singer-songwriter, producer and three time ARIA winner, Shane Nicholson first made waves with rock band Pretty Violet Stain and released his debut solo album It’s A Movie in 2002. Since then Nicholson has released five critically acclaimed solo albums, including Familiar Ghosts (2008) and Bad Machines (2011) and has picked up eight Golden Guitars, two APRA Awards and two ARIA Awards along the way.

Nicholson’s sixth solo album Hell Breaks Loose won the ARIA Award for Best Country Album and the CMAA Golden Guitar for Alternative Country Album of The Year.

Australian country songstress Beccy Cole has delighted country music fans for more than twenty years and has become one of the nation’s most-loved and celebrated artists. Her tenth release Sweet Rebecca, is a reflection of her life thus far, both onstage and off. With nine Golden Guitars to her name (including four for Female Vocalist of the Year), as well as multiple ARIA Top 10 Country and Top 40 Mainstream albums, a Top 10 DVD, three gold certified releases, and more than a dozen No. 1 Australian country singles, Beccy Cole is one of Australia’s most successful singer-songwriters.

The CMC Music Awards are the only viewer voted country music awards in the southern hemisphere, giving fans the opportunity to vote for their favourite Australian and International country artists.

Voting for The 6th Annual CMC Music Awards 2016 is still open by visiting www.countrymusicchannel.com.au.

Tickets for The 6th Annual CMC Music Awards are going fast. To visit www.qpac.com.au or 136 246. For more information regarding the CMC Music Awards go to www.countrymusicchannel.com.au

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###7TH ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS
TICKETS ON SALE NEXT WEEK
FOR 23 MARCH 2017

INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC STAR KIP MOORE AND LOCAL FAVOURITES THE McCLYMONTS TO PERFORM

The annual CMC Music Awards, the only fan-voted country music awards in the southern hemisphere are back for a seventh year and today Foxtel and CMC (Country Music Channel), Australia’s only destination for country music, are thrilled to announce international multi-Platinum singer/songwriter KIP MOORE and Australia’s #1 country group THE McCLYMONTS will perform at the awards.

It’s the hottest ticket for Australia’s country music fans who will be able to purchase tickets to the CMC Music Awards 2017 from next Tuesday November 29 at 9am (Qld time) at ticketek.com.au and for further information visit countrymusicchannel.com.au.

The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards give fans the opportunity to vote for their favourite Australian and international country artists. Next year the Awards will take place for the first time at The Star Gold Coast (currently Jupiters Gold Coast and transitioning to The Star Gold Coast early 2017) on Thursday March 23, 2017 and will be broadcast LIVE on CMC.

Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones said the Gold Coast was the perfect place to showcase local and international artists for the CMC Awards.

“The Gold Coast is a vibrant destination that offers amazing live music and entertainment,” Ms Jones said. “The city will come to life with the CMC Awards showcasing the experiences the Gold Coast has to offer to a global audience.

“The Awards and CMC Rocks festival are highlights on Tourism and Events Queensland’s growing calendar of live music events, cementing Queensland’s reputation as the home of Australia’s best events.”

Mayor of the City of Gold Coast Tom Tate said “As a lover of country music I am delighted that Gold Coast is to be the venue for the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards. This is a genre that locals and visitors to the Gold Coast love. The Broadbeach Country music festival is proof of that with growing success each year.

“Remarkably, Australia is the fourth largest market in the world for country music and one-third of all adult Aussies listen to it regularly. Gold Coast is proud to be the host site for such a marvellous program that will reach not only every corner of our great nation but much of the world as well.”

For the third consecutive year, five-time CMC Music Award winner and face of the channel MORGAN EVANS will host country music’s night of nights. One of Aussie music’s hottest contemporary country stars, Morgan’s infectious on-stage charisma and relentless touring has caught the eye of artists like Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn, all of whom have invited him to join them on tour through the years.

Morgan will be returning to the CMC Music Awards’ stage direct from his home in Nashville, where he has relocated to write and record the follow up to his acclaimed #1 self-titled debut album. He will be joined by a stellar line-up of country music’s finest international and local artists who will be announced in the coming weeks.

Multi-Platinum selling singer/songwriter Kip Moore returns to Australia to perform at the Awards for the first time. Moore recently released ‘Underground’, a 5-track EP that draws inspiration from his unyielding time out on the road touring. ‘Underground’ follows the release of Moore’s critically acclaimed sophomore album ‘Wild Ones’ that has been declared as "an impressively singular release from Music Row… unlike anything else in country music”. His debut album ‘Up All Night’ was certified Gold by the RIAA and spawned three #1 hit singles including Gold-certified “Beer Money”, Platinum-certified “Hey Pretty Girl” and the double Platinum breakout hit “Somethin’ 'Bout A Truck”.

A constant road warrior, Moore’s headlining ‘Me and My Kind Tour’ follows a characteristically relentless touring schedule, that kicked off at the beginning of the year with a sold-out tour in the US and Canada, a stint in Australia for the first time and headlining shows in The UK and Ireland that, due to demand, led to bigger venues being scheduled as well as closing out the run with a sold-out date in London, UK. Moore recently wrapped his summer stint out on the road with Miranda Lambert.

Joining Kip Moore to perform at the awards are multi-award winning country music trio The McClymonts. Talented sisters Brooke, Samantha and Mollie McClymont have come a long way since their 2007 debut album ‘Chaos and Bright Lights’.

Throughout their ten year career, The McClymonts have released four studio albums which have received 2x Gold Sales Accreditations, 10x Golden Guitar Awards, 2x ARIA Awards, an APRA Award and CMA Award for Global Artist of the Year. They have released twenty hit singles along the way, and won countless fans and critics as they toured extensively around Australia and the USA.

Next year sees the release of their fifth studio album ‘Endless’ following their highly successful 2014 album ‘Here’s To You & I’, which garnered three hit singles including “Forever Begins Tonight” and saw the girls receive two Golden Guitar Awards for ‘Group or Duo of the Year’ and ‘Top Selling Album of the Year’ in 2015.

"The CMC Music Awards is one of the biggest nights of the year on the country music calendar and we’re looking forward to joining Kip, Morgan and the CMC team to celebrate Aussie Country music and have some fun with our international friends”, said Mollie McClymont. .

The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards kick off a star studded week in country music with CMC Rocks QLD 2017, Australia’s premiere Country and Roots Festival to follow. Now in its epic tenth year, CMC Rocks will feature performances by global superstars Dixie Chicks who headline the Festival and who will be joined by a first class international and local performance line up including Kip Moore, Little Big Town, Lee Kernaghan and many more.

CMC Rocks QLD 2017 will be held over three days and nights from Friday March 24, Saturday March 25 and Sunday March 26, 2017 at Willowbank near Ipswich and will telecast on CMC in April.

Tickets for CMC Rocks QLD 2017 are available at: cmcrocks.com

Foxtel and CMC are proud to partner with Tourism and Events Queensland to bring the CMC Music Awards to Queensland for the third year. CMC Music Awards 2017 and CMC Rocks QLD are part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, showcasing Australia’s best live events in Australia’s best destinations.

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7TH ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS

COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTARS LITTLE BIG TOWN AND AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY RISING STAR TRAVIS COLLINS TO PERFORM

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC) is thrilled to announce the next round of performers at the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards, Grammy Award winning group LITTLE BIG TOWN, who will make their debut Australian visit and one of Australia’s most exciting country/rock talents TRAVIS COLLINS will perform at the awards next year.

The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards, Country music’s night of nights and the only fan voted country music awards in the southern hemisphere, gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favourite Australian and international country artists. The awards will take place for the first time at The Star Gold Coast (currently Jupiters Gold Coast and transitioning to The Star Gold Coast early 2017) on Thursday March 23, 2017 and will be broadcast LIVE on Foxtel’s CMC.

It’s the hottest ticket for Australia’s country music fans who can watch fan favourites Little Big Town, Travis Collins and previously announced artists Kip Moore and The MyClymonts who all perform live. Fans can purchase tickets to the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards at ticketek.com.au and for further information visit countrymusicchannel.com.au.

Reigning Grammy, CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook, first entered the music scene more than 18 years ago with hits such as “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone” and the Grammy-nominated single “Little White Church”. With albums ‘Tornado’ and ‘Pain Killer’, they have seen massive success with #1 singles “Pontoon,” “Tornado,” “Day Drinking”, and most recently the history-making, best-selling country single of 2015, with "Girl Crush”.

Little Big Town has earned almost 40 award show nominations and in the past five years has taken home nearly 20 awards, including multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM awards, and an Emmy award. They are the reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year and recently won the same award for the fifth consecutive year. At the 2016 Grammy Awards Little Big Town won “Best Country Group/Duo Performance,” and “Girl Crush” received the honour for “Best Country Song.” The group recently received honours from the Academy of Country Music for Vocal Group of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year with Miranda Lambert, and the group was also recognised with the Crystal Milestone Award. At the recent Billboard Awards Little Big Town and “Girl Crush” were nominated for Top Country Song as well as Chart Achievement Award, and the group were also honoured as the 2016 Music Business Association Artist of the Year.

Little Big Town recently released their brand new single “Better Man” to country radio which is the first single off of the group’s forthcoming seventh studio album entitled ‘The Breaker’ (set for release February 24, 2017).

Travis Collins is rapidly becoming one of Australia’s most exciting country/rock music talents. As a young contemporary performer who first came to be known back in 2004 when he won the Star Maker Quest, Travis released his first album “Start the Car”, featuring two tracks (‘Start The Car’ and ‘I Was Wrong’) which went to #1 on the Country Music Channel’s Top 30 Countdown.

Collins released his album “No Boundaries” in 2007 featuring 12 new recordings including the first single ‘Yeah She Does’. Followed by “Travis Collins” (2011) and the #1 country album “Wired” (2015) his fourth studio album which spawned two #1 country singles, ‘Curves’ and ‘Boots On’.

Travis Collins followed this up with his highly-anticipated fifth album released this year, “Hard Light” which features two #1 singles on the CMC chart ‘Just Another Girl’ and ‘Call Me Crazy’. Collins looks sure to shine brighter as everything moves up a gear, digging deeper than ever before not only in his vocal abilities, but also as a musician and songwriter. The album sees a refined sound with a stellar collection of new songs that show the hard side of sharing personal struggles and also the light in embracing them to produce incredible strength and character.

For the third consecutive year, five-time CMC Music Award winner and face of the channel MORGAN EVANS will host The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards. Morgan will be returning to the CMC Music Awards stage direct from his home in Nashville, where he has relocated to write and record the follow up to his acclaimed #1 self-titled debut album. He is joined by a stellar line-up of country music’s finest international and local artists with further artists to be announced in the coming weeks.

The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards kick off a star studded week in country music with CMC Rocks QLD 2017, Australia’s premiere Country and Roots Festival to follow. Now in its epic tenth year, CMC Rocks will feature performances by Global superstars Dixie Chicks who headline the Festival and who will be joined by a first class international and local performance line up including Little Big Town, Kip Moore, Lee Kernaghan and many more.

CMC Rocks QLD 2017 will be held over three days and nights from Friday March 24, Saturday March 25 and Sunday March 26, 2017 at Willowbank near Ipswich and will telecast on CMC in April. Tickets for CMC Rocks QLD 2017 are available at: cmcrocks.com

Foxtel and CMC are proud to partner with Tourism and Events Queensland to bring the CMC Music Awards to Queensland for the third year. CMC Music Awards 2017 and CMC Rocks QLD are part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, showcasing Australia’s best live events in Australia’s best destinations.

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7th ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS VOTING OPENS TODAY

Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC), Australia’s only destination for country music announced voting for the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards opens today Monday 16 January.

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###The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards Finalists Announced

After six huge weeks of voting, Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC) today announced the finalists for the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards, before the winners are revealed Thursday March 23 at 8.30pm AEDT during the LIVE broadcast on CMC hosted by MORGAN EVANS. The CMC Music Awards are also available to stream instantly on Foxtel Play.

TROY CASSAR-DALEY AND CRAIG CAMPBELL TO PERFORM AT THE AWARDS

Also announced today, music star TROY CASSAR-DALEY will team up with international country music rising star CRAIG CAMPBELL and join a stellar line up of previously announced international and local artists including LITTLE BIG TOWN, KIP MOORE, LEE KERNAGHAN, THE McCLYMONTS and TRAVIS COLLINS.

The finalists for The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards 2017 are as follows:

CMC AUSTRALIAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Adam Brand
Amber Lawrence
Lee Kernaghan
O’Shea
Travis Collins

CMC INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Blake Shelton
Brad Paisley
Carrie Underwood
Florida Georgia Line
Keith Urban

CMC MALE AUSTRALIAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Adam Brand
Lee Kernaghan
Travis Collins
Troy Cassar-Daley
Troy Kemp

CMC FEMALE AUSTRALIAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Amber Lawrence
Caitlyn Shadbolt
Chelsea Basham
Jasmine Rae
Kasey Chambers

CMC NEW AUSTRALIAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Fanny Lumsden
Imogen Clark
Jason Owen
Missy Lancaster
Weeping Willows

CMC GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
The McClymonts
O’Shea
Sunny Cowgirls
The Wolfe Brothers
Viper Creek Band

CMC AUSTRALIAN VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Chelsea Basham- One of These Days
O’Shea- The Truth Walks Slowly
The McClymonts- House
Travis Collins- Call Me Crazy
Wolfe Brothers- This Crazy Life

CMC INTERNATIONAL VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Carrie Underwood- Heartbeat
Florida Georgia Line- H.O.L.Y.
Keith Urban- Wasted Time
Kelsea Ballerini- Peter Pan
Tim McGraw- Humble & Kind

HALL OF FAME AWARD
Lee Kernaghan

ARIA HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN ARTIST
Adam Brand and The Outlaws (self-titled)

ARIA HIGHEST SELLING INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Keith Urban- Ripcord

Four time GRAMMY® Award winner KEITH URBAN will be awarded on the night with an ARIA Highest Selling International Album Award for his eighth American studio album “Ripcord” as well as being nominated in two categories, CMC International Video of the Year and CMC International Artist of the Year.

TRAVIS COLLINS who will perform at the awards tops off an already successful start to the year with three Golden Guitar Awards under his belt and follows this up with three nominations in the categories CMC Australian Video of the Year, CMC Australian Male Artist of the Year and CMC Australian Artist of the Year.

The CMC Music Awards 2017 will celebrate the road paved by LEE KERNAGHAN by honouring him with the CMC Hall of Fame Award which recognises artists who have had an impact on Australian country music beyond their own.

The ARIA Highest Selling Australian Artist will be awarded to ADAM BRAND AND THE OUTLAWS for their successful self- titled album “Adam Brand and The Outlaws”.

TROY CASSAR-DALEY and CRAIG CAMPBELL team up at the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards to perform an exclusive live acoustic duet. Troy said of the performance: “Craig and I have been friends for a long time and share a real love for traditional Country, it’s going to be great to sing with him again.”

The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards kick off a star studded week in country music with CMC Rocks QLD 2017, Australia’s premiere Country and Roots Festival to follow which is now sold out. Now in its epic tenth year, CMC Rocks will feature performances by Global superstars Dixie Chicks who headline the Festival and who will be joined by a first class international and local performance line up including Little Big Town, Kip Moore, Lee Kernaghan and many more. CMC Rocks QLD 2017 will be held over three days and nights from Friday March 24, Saturday March 25 and Sunday March 26, 2017 at Willowbank near Ipswich and will telecast on CMC in April.

The 7th Annual CMC Music Awards will broadcast LIVE on Thursday March 23 at 8.30pm AEDT on Foxtel’s CMC and is also available to watch on Foxtel’s streaming service, Foxtel Play.

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THE 7TH ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS

THURSDAY 23 MARCH AT 8.30PM AEDT

###ANNOUNCING PRESENTER LINE-UP

Including LITTLE BIG TOWN, Nashville star CHARLES ESTEN, Real Housewives of Sydney star MELISSA TKAUTZ and local country music favourites ADAM BRAND & TROY CASSAR-DALEY

Foxtel and Country Music Channel (CMC), Australia’s only destination for country music today announced presenters for the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards, broadcast LIVE on Foxtel’s CMC next Thursday March 23 at 8.30pm AEDT (and encored on FOX8, Thursday March 26 at 3.30pm) from The Star Gold Coast (currently Jupiters Gold Coast and transitioning to The Star Gold Coast early 2017).

Host MORGAN EVANS returns from Nashville to host the Awards featuring a stellar line-up of local and international guests performing and presenting including Grammy Award winning group LITTLE BIG TOWN who will present two Awards as well as perform their brand new single ‘Better Man’.

Joining them are international guests who will also present and perform including local country music star TRAVIS COLLINS who is up for three awards, THE McCLYMONTS and TROY CASSAR-DALEY who are also nominated. Performing at the Awards is LEE KERNAGHAN who is up for two awards and the recipient of the CMC Hall of Fame as well as KIP MOORE and CRAIG CAMPBELL who performs a duet with Troy Cassar-Daley in a CMC television exclusive.

Star of the hit US television series Nashville on Foxtel’s showcase, CHARLES ESTEN makes his first trip to Australia and will present at the Awards. Charles plays Deacon Claybourne on the series and joins the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards straight off the back of non-stop touring across North America with his Nashville co-stars.

International country music guest TYLER FARR and local country greats ADAM BRAND, ADAM HARVEY, JAMES BLUNDELL join CAITLYN SHADBOLT and CHRISTIE LAMB to present.

From the most talked about television series, The Real Housewives of Sydney on Foxtel’s Arena, Sydney housewife MELISSA TKAUTZ joins the list of presenters.

To round up the prestigious line-up of presenters is former Brisbane Broncos Captain and Fox League commentator COREY PARKER, who returns to present and take up his role once again as CMC Awards Queensland ambassador.

Former two-time CMC Female Artist of the Year, AMBER LAWRENCE and two time nominee at the 7th Annual CMC Music Awards will host the red carpet welcoming celebrities including international guests, ERIC PASLAY, DREW BALDRIDGE and MICHAEL RAY as well as British country music duos WARD THOMAS and THE SHIRES.

Also walking the red carpet are Award nominees THE WOLFE BROTHERS, JASON OWEN, FANNY LUMSDEN, JASMINE RAE, MISSY LANCASTER, SUNNY COWGIRLS, TROY KEMP and VIPER CREEK BAND.

Plus CATHERINE BRITT, BIANCA DYE, SPIDA EVERITT, TIM DORMER (Big Brother winner), MICHAEL DUFFY and CARLENE DUFFY (The Block), Brisbane Broncos DAVID MEAD, JARRYD McNEIL (Nitro Circus), JACK MARTIN and JARROD HARBROW from the Gold Coast Suns and NATHAN REARDON and JAMES PEIRSON from Brisbane Heat cricket team.

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THE 52ND ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS ™

Monday 3 April from 10am AEST

BROADCAST DIRECT FROM LAS VEGAS LIVE AND ONLY ON FOXTEL’S CMC

Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC) is thrilled to announce, off the back of Foxtel’s 7th Annual CMC Music Awards last week, the channel will broadcast Country Music’s Party of the Year®, The 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards™, LIVE and only on CMC next Monday April 3 from 10am.

Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley return to host for the second consecutive year with performers announced including ACM Award nominees Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Little Big Town who just performed at the CMC Music Awards last week on the Gold Coast.
The Backstreet Boys will make their debut appearance at Country Music’s Party of the Year®, performing with Florida Georgia Line for a must-see performance.
Keith Urban leads with seven Nominations; Miranda Lambert and Maren Morris each received six nominations; Florida Georgie Line and Tim McGraw each received five Nominations; Dierks Bentley, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton each received three nominations.

Keith Urban leads with seven nominations in five categories, including his seventh for Entertainer of the Year and 10th nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban is nominated twice, as both artist and producer, in the Album of the Year category for “Ripcord”. He received an additional two nominations, for both artist and producer, in the Single Record of the Year category for “Blue Ain’t Your Color”, which is also nominated in the Song of the Year category.

Seven-time Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert received six nominations and is once again nominated in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. Lambert received her fifth nomination in the Album of the Year category for “The Weight of These Wings”. Lambert’s ‘Vice’ received nods in the Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year categories. Also, she received two nominations for ‘Vice’ in the Song of the Year category, as both artist and songwriter.

First-time ACM nominee Maren Morris earned six nominations in four different categories. Morris received nominations in both Female Vocalist of the Year and has already taken out New Female Vocalist of the Year. She is also nominated twice for Album of the Year, as both producer and artist, on “HERO”. Morris is twice nominated as both artist and producer in Single Record of the Year for ‘My Church’.

Reigning Vocal Duo of the Year Florida Georgia Line leads group nominations with five nods, including their fifth nomination in the Vocal Duo of the Year category. Florida Georgia Line is also nominated for the second time in the Entertainer of the Year category. They received their second nomination in the Album of the Year category for “Dig Your Roots”. Also, they received nods for Single Record of the Year for ‘H.O.L.Y.’ and for Vocal Event of the Year for “May We All” with Tim McGraw.

Sixteen-time ACM Award winner Tim McGraw received five nominations in four categories. He earned two nominations in the Single Record of the Year category, as both artist and producer, on ‘Humble And Kind.’ Also, McGraw is nominated in the Song of the Year and Video of the Year categories for ‘Humble And Kind.’ In addition, he earned his 13th nod in the Vocal Event of the Year category for ‘May We All’ with Florida Georgia Line.

ACM Awards co-host Dierks Bentley received three nominations, including his fourth nomination in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Also, Bentley received his third nod in the Album of the Year category for “Black”, and his second nod in the Vocal Event of the Year category for ‘Different For Girls,’ featuring Elle King.
Thomas Rhett earned three nominations, including his first in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Also, Rhett received two nominations as artist and songwriter in the Song of the Year category for ‘Die A Happy Man.’ The song won Rhett an ACM Award last year in the Single Record of the Year category.

Reigning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year Chris Stapleton is nominated in three categories. Once again, Stapleton is nominated in both the Male Vocalist of the Year category, and the Song of the Year category with ‘Tennessee Whiskey.’ Also, Stapleton received a nod in the Video of the Year category for ‘Fire Away.’

Brothers Osborne, Maren Morris and Jon Pardi have been named New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year and New Male Vocalist of the Year. These awards mark the first-ever ACM Award® wins for Brothers Osborne, Morris and Pardi. Brothers Osborne are nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year.

The 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards™, LIVE and only on Foxtel’s CMC on Monday 3 April at 10am. With encore screenings Monday April 3 at 7pm, Tuesday April 4 at 9am, Wednesday April 5 at 3pm and Friday April 7 at 6pm.

The 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards™, broadcast LIVE on Monday April 3 at 10am on Foxtel’s CMC and is now available to watch on Foxtel’s streaming service, Foxtel Play. Following each broadcast, customers can watch The 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards™ any time via Foxtel On Demand, which is available on internet connected iQ boxes, Foxtel Play or enjoyed on the move via Foxtel Go, Foxtel’s mobile app. Foxtel Go and Foxtel On Demand are included with all Foxtel and Foxtel play subscriptions at no extra cost.

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THE 51st ANNUAL CMA AWARDS

Thursday 9 November at 12pm (AEDT)

Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC) is excited to announce Country Music’s Biggest Night™, THE 51st ANNUAL CMA AWARDS, will broadcast Thursday November 9 at 12pm (AEDT), LIVE on CMC.

Direct from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return for the 10th time to host the highly anticipated event on the Country Music calendar, where the biggest names in Country Music will gather to honour the best performers, songwriters, record producers and music video directors of the past year.

The 51st Annual CMA Awards will feature a star-studded lineup of artists performing including CMA Awards nominees Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Chris Stapleton, Thomas Rhett, and Carrie Underwood. 2017 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee and 16-time CMA Awards winner Alan Jackson will also take to the stage during the Awards.

Known for one-of-a-kind musical collaborations, the CMA announced four pairings for The 51st Annual CMA Awards, which include Kelsea Ballerini and Reba McEntire; Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts; Maren Morris and Niall Horan; and Brad Paisley and Kane Brown.

The stellar line-up of finalists for The 51st Annual CMA Awards represents the depth and range of Country Music over the past five decades from soulful traditionalists to contemporary ground-breakers.

Miranda Lambert tops the list of nominees for The 51st Annual CMA Awards with five nominations. Little Big Town and Keith Urban each garner four nominations, tying for the second most nominations this year.

Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks returns with his 12th nomination in the category, a title he has won five times, making him the most awarded artist in this category. Other nominees vying for the coveted ‘Entertainer of the Year Award’ include Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban.

Male vocalist of the Year nominees include Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton and Keith Urban. Urban has tallied up nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Single and Music Video of the Year for “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Male Vocalist. This is his thirteenth nomination for male vocalist Vocalist and he is a three-time consecutive winner in this category (2004-2006) and a 10-time CMA Awards winner.

Female vocalist of the Year nominees include Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris and Carrie Underwood. Miranda Lambert is the most awarded female in CMA Awards history with 12 trophies. This year’s nods bring her to a career total of 44 CMA Awards nominations.

While Reba McEntire nabbed her eighteenth nomination for Female Vocalist, a category she’s won four years consecutively (1984-1987). She is a six-time CMA Awards winner and now ties Brooks & Dunn with 50 career CMA Awards nominations and is the most nominated female in CMA Awards history.

Vocal Group of the Year nominees are Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band.

Taylor Swift received her 23rd nomination for writing “Better Man,” marking her second nomination for Song of the Year and first CMA Awards nod since 2014.

THE 51st ANNUAL CMA AWARDS, will broadcast Thursday November 9 at 12pm (AEDT), LIVE on CMC.

Following its broadcast on CMC, THE 51st ANNUAL CMA AWARDS will be available to watch from Foxtel’s on demand library and encore screenings on CMC: Thursday 9 November at 8pm, Friday 10 November at 9am, Friday 10 November at 6pm, Saturday 11 November at 3pm and Sunday 12 November at 7pm.

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8TH ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS

THE McCLYMONTS ANNOUNCED AS HOSTS

TICKETS ON SALE FOR THURSDAY 15 MARCH 2018

The annual CMC Music Awards, the only fan-voted country music awards in the southern hemisphere are back for the eighth year and today Foxtel and CMC (Country Music Channel), Australia’s only destination for country music, are thrilled to announce multi-award winning country music trio The McClymonts will host the 8th Annual CMC Music Awards on Thursday March 15, 2018 at The Star Gold Coast.

It’s the hottest ticket for Australia’s country music fans who will be able to purchase tickets to the CMC Music Awards 2018 from tomorrow (Thursday November 9 at 10am AEDT) at ticketek.com.au and for further information visit countrymusicchannel.com.au.

Morgan Evans who has hosted the Awards for the last four years is enjoying great success with his hit single Kiss Somebody and will be touring with James Blunt on his 2018 national tour. Morgan will hand the baton to The McClymonts who will be joined by a stellar line-up of country music’s finest international and local artists announced in the coming weeks.

“We are absolutely honoured to be invited to host the 8th Annual CMC Music Awards. Our good friend Morgan Evans has done an incredible job of hosting and we’re ready for a huge night celebrating Australian Country Music. We look forward to welcoming some of the biggest stars from around the world to the party. We can’t wait to hit the sunny Gold Coast and be part of Country music’s night of nights,” The McClymonts said.

The McClymonts have long been Australia’s best loved and most successful country music group, consisting of sisters Brooke, Mollie and Samantha McClymont who have come a long way since their 2007 debut album ‘Chaos and Bright Lights’.

Throughout their eleven year career, The McClymonts have released five studio albums, two of which are Gold certified albums (Chaos and Bright Lights and Wrapped Up Good), 10x Golden Guitar Awards, including 5 for Group or Duo of the Year, 2x ARIA Awards for Best Country Album to their credit, an APRA Award and CMA Award for Global Artist of the Year. The girls have also celebrated 3x CMC Music Awards for Australian Artist of the Year and Group or Duo of the Year (2015/2017). They have released twenty hit singles along the way, and won countless fans and critics as they toured extensively around Australia and the USA.

This year saw the release of their fifth studio album ‘Endless’ following their highly successful 2014 album ‘Here’s To You & I’, which garnered three hit singles including “Forever Begins Tonight” and saw the girls receive two Golden Guitar Awards for ‘Group or Duo of the Year’ and ‘Top Selling Album of the Year’ in 2015.

Fraser Stark, Group Channel Manager of Foxtel’s Arts & Music channels said, “Foxtel’s CMC is all about making a heartfelt connection with a vast community of country music fans. It’s what we do on air every day so it’s great that the Awards give us the chance to meet up in-person.

“After a terrific CMC Music Awards this year it is exciting to be gearing up to return to The Star Gold Coast for 2018’s country music night-of-nights. With thanks to Tourism and Events Queensland and the Australian country music community the event promises to be bigger and better than ever. For 2018 we have secured three amazing hosts in the McClymonts and we have yet another huge year in country music to honour and celebrate with the genre’s leading artists, industry professionals and, of course, the fans.”

The 8th Annual CMC Music Awards kick off a star studded week in country music with CMC Rocks QLD 2018, Australia’s premiere Country and Roots Festival to follow. Now in its epic eleventh year, CMC Rocks will be headlined by two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan, on his debut Australian visit. Joining him in the line-up is Darius Rucker (US) and Kelsea Ballerini (US), along with local duo Busby Marou and a phenomenal line-up of the very best artists the genre has to offer from Thursday March 15* - Sunday March 18, 2018 at Willowbank near Ipswich and will telecast on CMC in April. *Campers entrance only

Tickets for CMC Rocks QLD 2018 are now sold out making Australian country music history with 18,000 tickets selling out in under an hour. Join the waitlist for tickets at Moshtix.com.au

Foxtel and CMC are delighted to partner with Tourism and Events Queensland who are proud to support the CMC Music Awards which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, showcasing Australia’s best live events in Australia’s best destinations.

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8TH ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS

HOTTEST RISING STAR KELSEA BALLERINI AND LOCAL FAVOURITES THE WOLFE BROTHERS ANNOUNCED AS FIRST PERFORMERS

Foxtel and CMC (Country Music Channel), Australia’s only destination for country music, are thrilled to announce one of the most exciting and hottest young female international country artists Kelsea Ballerini and local favourites The Wolfe Brothers as the first round of performers at the 8th Annual CMC Music Awards on Thursday March 15, 2018 at The Star Gold Coast.

Ballerini returns to Australia after two years when she performed at the 6th Annual CMC Music Awards and introduced us to her incredible talent, and where she met her now husband Australian country music artist Morgan Evans.

The Sony Music artist has come a long way from her hometown in Knoxville (Tennessee), and it’s not an overstatement to say that her record-breaking rise has been meteoric. She reigns as the only female Country artist to achieve three consecutive #1 US Billboard hits from a debut - ‘Love Me Like You Mean It”, ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Dibs’ - all of which have achieved PLATINUM status as she played slews of tour dates and nurtured a growing reputation as one of Nashville’s sharpest writers.

Dubbed the GRAMMY nominee’s “grown-up statement” (Rolling Stone), Ballerini’s acclaimed sophomore album UNAPOLOGETICALLY takes listeners on an intimate journey of loss, life, and love and is the follow-up to her GOLD-certified debut THE FIRST TIME. “Legends” marks the first chart-rising single among the 12-track compilation – all written or co-written by Ballerini.

Ballerini has shared the stage with Country greats including Lady Antebellum, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban, plus headlined her own tours in addition to winning scores of accolades (including an ACM Award for New Female Vocalist of the Year, Billboard’s “Rising Star” Award and an ACCA for Breakthrough Female of the Year). Most recently, she performed “Legends" with Reba McEntire at the 2017 Country Music Association (CMA) awards. Ballerini will also perform at CMC Rocks and the Metro Theatre (Sydney) on March 20.

“The CMC awards are super dear to my heart, and I’m so excited to come back and perform for my Aussie friends next year,” shares Ballerini.

The Wolfe Brothers formed of brothers Tom and Nick Wolfe and childhood friend Brodie Rainbird continue to ride the wave that started for them in 2012 when they captured the attention of the nation and were voted into second place in the final of the nationally televised show Australia’s Got Talent.

Since the release of their debut album “It’s On” in 2013, The Wolfe Brothers have been on the road touring and playing to sell-out crowds across the country and have since released a self-titled EP and three studio albums, “It’s On”, “Nothing But Trouble” released in 2014 and entered the ARIA Country Charts at #2 and debuted at #13 on the all genre ARIA Chart and “This Crazy Life”.

“It’s On” earned The Wolfe Brothers three Top 10 singles and the album entered the ARIA charts at #2 on the country chart and #18 on the overall chart and saw the band nominated for four Golden Guitar Awards.
The Wolfe Brothers have celebrated success at the CMC Music Awards winning the New Oz Artist of the Year 2014 and Group or Duo of the Year in 2016. They have also previously performed at the awards with Lee Kernaghan and Adam Brand and look forward to making their debut solo performance at the Awards next year.

The Wolfe Brothers said: “We’re absolutely wrapped to be performing at the 2018 CMC Music Awards. It’s really our favourite night of the year, with the international element and the awards being fan voted it means a lot to us to be involved. While we’ve performed at the awards before previously with other acts; it’s going to be really great to do our own thing this time in that amazing setting.”

Kelsea Ballerini and The Wolfe Brothers will lead a stellar line up of international and local artists who will be announced in coming weeks.

Multi-award winning country music trio The McClymonts will host the 8th Annual CMC Music Awards, the hottest ticket for Australia’s country music fans who will be able to purchase tickets to the CMC Music Awards 2018 at ticketek.com.au and for further information visit countrymusicchannel.com.au.

The 8th Annual CMC Music Awards kick off a star studded week in country music with CMC Rocks QLD 2018, Australia’s premiere Country and Roots Festival to follow. Now in its epic eleventh year, CMC Rocks will be headlined by two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan, on his debut Australian visit. Joining him in the line-up is Darius Rucker (US) and Kelsea Ballerini (US), along with local duo Busby Marou and a phenomenal line-up of the very best artists the genre has to offer from Thursday March 15*- Sunday March 18, 2018 at Willowbank near Ipswich and will telecast on CMC in April. *Campers entrance only

Tickets for CMC Rocks QLD 2018 are now sold out making Australian country music history with 18,000 tickets selling out in under an hour. Join the waitlist for tickets at Moshtix.com.au

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8th ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS VOTING OPENS TODAY

Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC), Australia’s only destination for country music announced voting for the 8th Annual CMC Music Awards opens today Friday January 12.

Voting for the 8th Annual CMC Music Awards opens today via https://cmcmusicawards.countrymusicchannel.com.au/.

Vote for your favourite country stars and you could win the ultimate country music prize including a VIP experience at the CMC Music Awards and a three day ticket to the now sold out CMC Rocks Qld with flights and accommodation. Full Terms & Conditions are available on the website. Voting closes February 26.

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This is a hilariously depressing thread.

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8TH ANNUAL CMC MUSIC AWARDS

Foxtel and CMC (Country Music Channel), Australia’s only destination for country music, are excited to announce US hottest breaking bands Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne and local favourites Travis Collins and Amber Lawrence to perform at the 8th Annual CMC Music Awards on Thursday March 15, 2018 at The Star Gold Coast.

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8th Annual CMC Music Awards

Thursday 15 March at 8.30pm AEDT

ANNOUNCING PRESENTER LINE-UP

Foxtel and Country Music Channel (CMC), Australia’s only destination for country music today announced presenters for the 8th Annual CMC Music Awards, broadcast LIVE on Foxtel’s CMC next Thursday March 15 at 8.30pm AEDT (and encored on FOX8, Sunday March 18 at 4pm) from The Star Gold Coast.

Multi-award winning country music trio The McClymonts host the Awards for the first time and introduce a stellar line-up of local and performing guests performing including Grammy Award winner Darius Rucker, hottest young female international country artist Kelsea Ballerini, US hottest breaking bands Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne and local favourites
The Wolfe Brothers, Travis Collins and Amber Lawrence.

Joining them are international guests who will present at the Awards including country music stars Dean Brody, Brett Young, Dan + Shay and American television and radio broadcaster Storme Warren. Kelsea Ballerini will present as well as perform.

Local country greats and nominees take to the stage to present awards which include Adam Brand, Troy Cassar-Daley and CMC Hall of Fame inductee Lee Kernaghan who is proud to take to the stage this year to present the CMC New Artist of the Year category which will be renamed the ‘The Rob Potts Tribute/CMC New Artist of Year’ in honour of CMC Rocks Festival co-founder Rob Potts.

Four time nominee and performer Travis Collins will also present alongside local favourites and nominees Caitlyn Shadbolt, Missy Lancaster and Fanny Lumsden, as well as Kirsty Lee-Akers, Troy Kemp and Tania Kernaghan.

Awards co-host Brooke McClymont will also host the red carpet for broadcast. Joining her on the red carpet is former two-time CMC Female Artist of the Year, and two time nominee Amber Lawrence who will host for CMC and iHeartRadio.

Both girls will welcome guests performing and presenting as well as Award nominees Sunny Cowgirls, Tailgate Drive, Christie Lamb, Imogen Clark and Rachael Fahim.

Joining them are CMC’s first Hall of Fame honouree James Blundell, Aleyce Simmonds, Adam Eckersley, Jetty Road, Drew McAlister, Viper Creek Band and many more.

The 8th Annual CMC Music Awards kick off a star studded week in country music with CMC Rocks QLD 2018, Australia’s premiere Country and Roots Festival to follow. Now in its epic eleventh year, CMC Rocks will be headlined by two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan, on his debut Australian visit. Joining him in the line-up is Darius Rucker (US) and Kelsea Ballerini (US), along with local duo Busby Marou and a phenomenal line-up of the very best artists the genre has to offer from Thursday March 15*- Sunday March 18, 2018 at Willowbank near Ipswich and will telecast on CMC in April. *Campers entrance only.

Tickets for CMC Rocks QLD 2018 are now sold out making Australian country music history with 18,000 tickets selling out in under an hour. Join the waitlist for tickets at Moshtix.com.au

Foxtel and CMC are delighted to partner with the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland who are proud to support the CMC Music Awards. The awards feature on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, which showcase Queensland as just the place to experience the world’s best live events.

Tickets to the CMC Music Awards 2018 are selling fast but still available for purchase at ticketek.com.au and for further information visit countrymusicchannel.com.au.

The 8th Annual CMC Music Awards, broadcast LIVE on Foxtel’s CMC next Thursday March 15 at 8.30pm AEDT and encored on FOX8, Sunday March 18 at 4pm and on CMC from Monday March 19 at 7pm.

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THE 53rd ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS™

Hosted by REBA McENTIRE

CARRIE UNDERWOOD to perform the world premiere of her soon to be released single

Monday 16 April AEST

Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC) is thrilled to announce The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, honouring country music’s superstars and hottest emerging talent will broadcast LIVE and exclusive to CMC next Monday April 16 at 10am and also available On Demand*.

Multimedia superstar and sixteen-time ACM Award winner Reba McEntire will return to host LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, marking Reba’s fifteenth time hosting the ceremony, last appearing in 2012 with Blake Shelton.

Thirteen time ACM® winner Carrie Underwood will perform the world television premiere of her soon to be released single at the Awards, which marks her first her first public appearance and performance since her injury last November.

ACM Award nominees Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, and Thomas Rhett will also take the stage for must-see performances. Bebe Rexha will make her debut appearance at Country Music’s Party of the Year®, performing the chart-topping collaboration “Meant to Be” with Florida Georgia Line.

Multi-ACM Award winning artists Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban will also perform at The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards. Kane Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town and Jon Pardi have been added to the all-star lineup of performers for The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™. Presenters include Cam, Dustin Lynch, and Kiefer Sutherland, The Ranch co-stars Sam Elliott and Ashton Kutcher, SEAL Team co-stars David Boreanaz, AJ Buckley and Max Thieriot, as well as The Talk host Eve.

Chris Stapleton leads with eight nominations in five categories, including his first nod for Entertainer of the Year. Stapleton is also nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, and twice, as both artist and producer, in both the Album of the Year and Single Record of the Year; he received the Album of the Year nod for From a Room: Volume 1, and the Single Record of the Year nod for “Broken Halos”. He is also nominated twice, both as artist and songwriter, in the Song of the Year category for “Whiskey and You”. ™, LIVE

Also nominated in the category of Entertainer of the Year are Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton.

Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year, Thomas Rhett earned six nominations, including his second in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. Rhett is also nominated twice, as an artist and producer for both Album of the Year for Life Changes and Vocal Event of the Year for “Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris). Lastly he is nominated for his first Music Video of the Year award for “Marry Me”.

Keith Urban earned five nominations, including his eighth nod for Entertainer of the Year and eleventh nod for Male Vocalist of the Year. Urban is also nominated for Song of the Year for “Female,” and twice, as both artist and producer in the Vocal Event of the Year category for “The Fighter” (featuring Carrie Underwood).

Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Miranda Lambert received four nominations, including her twelfth nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. She is the current record holder for most consecutive wins in the Female Vocalist of the Year category.

Reigning Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, earned their twelfth nomination in the category. They are also nominated for Album of the Year for Breaker, and Single Record of the Year for “Better Man”.

Eighteen-time ACM Award winner Tim McGraw and sixteen-time ACM Award winner Faith Hill received their first-ever nomination as a duo in the Vocal Duo of the Year category.

Reba McEntire received her sixteenth nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year.

The 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™, LIVE and only on Foxtel’s CMC on Monday 16 April at 10am. Encore screenings Monday 16 April at 8pm, Wednesday 18 April at 5pm, Thursday 19 April at 4pm, and Friday 20 April at 7pm. Also available to steam *On Demand on internet-connected iQ set-top-boxes