Cover Story The big 5-0

By Jacqueline Spendlove TV Media

Country music’s “party of the year” is about to celebrate its golden anniversary.

The Dallas Cowboys are lending out their home field for a very special night as the biggest names in the industry come together for the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards. Don’t miss the star-studded event when it airs live Sunday, April 19, on CBS, from Arlington, Texas.

The music industry boasts a long list of glitzy award shows to honor the top artists of the previous year. There are even several ceremonies dedicated specifically to country music, and the ACM Awards show is one of the biggest nights of the year for artists and fans of the genre. The evening gives a nod to the cream of the crop in the industry and ushers in some rising stars who we’re sure to see a lot more of in the near future.

With the ceremony celebrating its 50th anniversary, this year’s broadcast is extra special, and the academy has brought back a couple of old hands and big names to keep things running smoothly. Country superstars Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan are co-hosting the event — Shelton for his fifth consecutive year and Bryan for his third.

Shelton is himself a recipient of 15 ACM Award nominations, and he’s taken home four, including Male Vocalist of the Year in 2012 and Song of the Year in 2013. He also has nine Country Music Association Awards to his name and a slew of other accolades that include Grammy and Billboard nominations and American Country Award and CMT Music Award wins.

The Ada, Oklahoma, native is more than just a crooner, however. Shelton’s made a name for himself on television, wielding the proverbial gavel as a judge in the “American Idol”-esque singing competition “Nashville Star” and the NBC miniseries “Clash of the Choirs.” Even those who aren’t nuts about country music should recognize

2012 won every American Country ly bring a lot to the table they keep getting this good, and now we’re out here destroying its reputation,” he deadpans in a promo video.

Judging by the 60,000-odd people who will be swarming into AT&T Stadium on the 19th, however, it doesn’t look as though the show’s in any danger of flopping. In fact, there was such a clamor to attend the sold-out event that additional seats were released last month to squeeze in more frantic fans.

Not surprisingly, there are some big names up for awards in the top categories this year. Leading the pack is Shelton’s wife, Miranda Lambert, whose eight nominations include Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. The Texas native is excited to be able to attend the awards in her home state for the first time, now that they’ve moved from their previous home at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand.

“I can’t believe that it’s in Texas, and I’ve got a good amount of nominations,” the songstress said in “Billboard Country Update.” “It’ll be kind of a magical night, and I haven’t been in that building when I haven’t had a little bit of magic happen. You’re excited to be there because whatever you’re doing there is something that’s pretty awesome.”

Right on Lambert’s heels with seven nominations is Dierks Bentley, up against both hosts for Male Vocalist of the Year, followed by Florida Georgia Line with five. All three acts are also slated to perform at the event, as are Shelton, Bryan and others, including the Queen of Country herself, Reba McEntire. The two-time Grammy winner not only has 13 ACM Awards to her name, but she’s also hosted the event a whopping 17 times. The golden anniversary show will be the first time in five years that the megastar performs on the telecast.

With huge stars, stellar performances and a special 50th Anniversary Milestone Award, you won’t want to miss a moment when the red carpet is rolled out for the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards. Hosted by country superstars Shelton and Bryan, the star-studded event airs live from Arlington’s AT&T Stadium Sunday, April 19, on CBS.