Academy of Country Music Announces At-Home Special
With the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards moved to September due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Academy of Country…
Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
With the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards moved to September due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions have teamed up for a one-of-a-kind entertainment special: ACM Presents: Our Country. The two-hour special will fill the broadcast slot previously set aside for the ACM Awards and will feature at-home acoustic performances from some of country music’s biggest stars. The broadcast will also include clips of artists’ favorite moments the ACM Awards’ 55-year history.
A press release from the Academy of Country Music states that “it will be a night filled with entertainment, hope and reflection, bringing the healing power of music to Americans at a time when they need it most.”
“Although the highly anticipated 55th ACM Awards show is unable to take place on April 5th due to the health crisis, we still wanted to deliver fans an entertaining ACM Country Music special as planned,” said Damon Whiteside, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “We are thrilled to announce ‘ACM Presents: Our Country,’ an all-new special that allows fans to connect with their favorite country artists and to relive some of the greatest moments of the ACM Awards, all from the comfort and safety of their own homes.”
“Music has always served as a powerful form of hope and solidarity during challenging times,” added Amy Thurlow, President, dick clark productions. “It’s our privilege to offer audiences an uplifting message through music as well as a look back at some of the best moments in ACM Awards history.”
“Broadcast television and music have always been mediums that bring people together,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. “From their living rooms to yours, CBS is pleased to partner with the ACM and dick clark productions to have some of today’s biggest country artists connect with and entertain fans in an intimate way while allowing everyone to stay safe.”
ACM Presents: Our Country will air Sunday, April 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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