Photo by Leslie Paczosa
AS REPORTED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire will be back to host the 2012 ACM Awards. After a praiseworthy performance during the 2011 awards show — and Shelton’s skyrocketing public profile — inviting the two to run the show again was likely a no-brainer for producers. In addition, the AP reports that the academy has announced headliners for the other events taking place during the early April celebration.
One day after the April 1 awards show, Lionel Richie will host ‘ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends – A Lifetime of Hits.’ This special replaces last year’s ‘Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country’ special, which is remembered as the debut of Miranda Lambert‘s trio Pistol Annies. Richie is set to release an album of country duets in the spring, and this special will highlight some of those recordings. Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts are confirmed to appear.
Additionally, the Zac Brown Band will host the ACM Fan Jam at the Mandalay Events Center. Last year, Sugarland had the honors of hosting, and the CBS broadcast would occasionally turn to that venue for unique performances and collaborations.