What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T2 WHATS UP! April 15 - 21, 2018 BY SARAH PASSINGHAM TV Media C ountry artists hit the strip on Sunday, April 15, for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards, airing on CBS. Broadcast live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, it's a night of celebrating the best in country music, from veteran superstars to fresh, emerging talents. Hosting the ceremony this year is country music legend Reba McEntire. The epony- mous "Reba" star is no strang- er to the hosting gig, having taken the reins a total of 14 times between 1985 and 2012. "I really enjoy hosting. It's very exciting. I love live televi- sion," the songstress told En- tertainment Tonight. Not only does McEntire have solid experience in the hosting seat, she is a record- holding award winner, having taken home 16 awards from the Academy of Country Mu- sic over the years — the most wins of any artist. She won her first ACM Award in 1984 for Female Vo- calist of the Year, an award she is also nominated for this year, making it her 16th nomination in the category. One achievement that is close to the multitalented star's heart is her 1994 win for the ACM's Entertainer of the Year. With a personal connec- tion to the category, McEntire told Entertainment Tonight that she was "disappointed" about the lack of female nomi- nees this year but remained hopeful, calling country music "very cyclical. The girls dominate or the boys dominate, so it's coming around. I have faith." Nomi- nated in the category this year are Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Chris Sta- pleton and Keith Urban. Her disappointment is un- derstandable, particularly with this being a big year for breakthroughs for women in country music. Bebe Rexha, one of the performers of the night, made history in Febru- ary when her hit with fellow performers Florida Georgia Line, "Meant to Be," topped Billboard's Hot Country Songs for the 11th week in a row. Un- seating Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back To- gether," the tune became the longest-running No. 1 song by a lead female. Both tracks are crossover hits, with Swift's song being the lead single from her 2012 album, "Red," which at the time was her most pop-influ- enced record to date. Primari- ly a pop star herself, Rexha spoke to Billboard of her suc- cess on the country charts, saying "the beautiful thing about music is that it allows you to break boundaries." Along with Rexha and Flori- da Georgia Line, the impres- sive list of performers for this year's event includes Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bent- ley, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lam- bert, Urban, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Kenny Chesney and more. The cere- mony welcomes not only country artists but some fa- mous country fans as present- ers for the night, including New Orleans Saints quarter- back Drew Brees, Nancy O'Dell of "Entertainment To- night," actress Rebecca Romi- Reba McEntire hosts the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards Country shines continued on page T10 TV FEATURE B/Health Initiatives Research 2 x 5 Health Initiatives Research 479-575-9600 2233 N Green Acres Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72703 CREAD 2 is a clinical research study for people aged 50 to 85 who are experiencing increasing problems with their memory. Contact the study team to learn more.