Hosting, Performing, Three Nominations--Dierks Looks To Have A Big Night at Next Week's ACM Awards

Only one week remains to plan your Black-themed party (or at the very least set your DVR)—the Academy of Country Music Awards are Sunday, April 2. And it’s going to be a BIG night for Dierks Bentley.

Next weekend, Dierks returns to host the 52^nd annual ACM Awards with Luke Bryan.

“It’s a great opportunity and a lot of fun,” Dierks said of hosting the ACMs. “Being in Las Vegas gives it a party atmosphere. I had a great time working on the show [last year], from the jokes and the opening monologue to being creative in a different way. And I love Luke!”

In addition to hosting, Dierks is scheduled to perform live at the show (he hinted at performing “Black” in a recent interview!) PLUS he’s nominated for three (deserved—can we say that?!) awards:

• Male Vocalist of the Year
• Album of the Year, Black
• Vocal Event of the Year, Different for Girls, featuring Elle King

The Black album, a risk for Dierks, has earned numerous accolades, including nine nominations between the ACM, CMA and Grammy awards. It received a GOLD certification in February; it’s the only album in the ACM “Album of the Year” category to have reached this mark.

“Different For Girls” was named the CMA Musical Event of the Year at the 2016 awards show. The song Dierks “lost sleep about” has reached people on a relatable level. He believes having Elle as the female vocal lead helped with that success.

“She took a song that was a great song and made it a Grammy-worthy song!”

While, according to Dierks, hosting the show makes performing at it easier, running the show has its own stressors. On the heels of the Oscars flub earlier this year, Dierks had a realization about hosting this year's ACM Awards.

“The [Oscars] taught us that no matter how prepared we are or how great we do up there, as long as there’s a huge screw up at the end, that’s all they’re going to talk about."

So, they came up with a plan to prevent mishaps.

If something goes wrong, they decided Luke will have a wardrobe malfunction.

“At least that way everyone talks about that and not the show,” Dierks joked.

With a night full of fun, talent and recognition, next Sunday is guaranteed to be a memorable night (for Dierks, especially) as country music takes over Las Vegas.

The ACM Awards are Sunday, April 2, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on CBS.

Jessica Borrelli
DB Congress Rep, WA
@AllTheWayToMe

First a Co-Host, Now a Nominee! Dierks Bentley Nominated for Two ACM Awards

For the first time ever, Dierks Bentley will co-host the ACM Awards with buddy Luke Bryan. But this isn't his first nomination.  In fact, he's been given the nod but not the win for Male Vocalist of the Year so many times over the last ten+ years, fans are referring to Dierks as the Susan Lucci of the awards shows.

Let's hope the hosting gig gives him good luck to break that spell!

Dierks is also nominated for Video of the Year for his heart-wrenching story of a homeless mom and her kids, "rising" above the adversity.

The 51st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards airs Sunday, April 3, 2016 on CBS at 8 pm Eastern.

Best of luck to our president--we know you'll do a great job co-hosting and thousands of fingers are crossed that the ACM members agreed with us and voted for you!  We can't wait to hear/see your acceptance speech!  Don't forget to mention your DB Congress!

Dierks Bentley... For Your CMA Consideration

Watch and listen to hear if Dierks Bentley's name is called Wednesday morning, September 3 on ABC's Good Morning America, when Little Big Town and Darius Rucker announce live the final nominees in five award categories for "The 48th Annual CMA Awards."  The announcement will air in the 8:30 AM/ET half-hour segment.

According to countrymusicislove.com, "Following “Good Morning America,” Little Big Town and Rucker will be at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square to announce the finalists in the remaining seven categories..and this event will be streamed live via CMAawards.com beginning at 10:00 AM/ET."

Dierks could be nominated in as many as five categories, as his press kit sent to CMA members suggested the following "for your CMA consideration."

• Male Vocalist of the Year
• Album of the Year - Riser
• Single of the Year - "Drunk On A Plane"
• Song of the Year - "I Hold On"
• Music Video of the Year- "Drunk On A Plane"

The vote-prompting packet also included Riser, the CD and Riser the documentary film, along with an assemble-your-own Riser Air paper/plastic airplane and flying instructions.

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by more than 7,000 professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. 

The eligibility period for the 2014 CMA Awards is July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

The 48th Annual CMA Awards will air on ABC on Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET).

We would love if he was nominated for and won all five--he totally deserves them, but if he could only win one, which award do you think would mean the most to Dierks?  Leave your answer in the comments!

For Your 2012 CMA Consideration.... Dierks Bentley!

It was a Monday and Dierks was headed to the studio: "...it's just a matter of taking the time now to make sure everything is totally right." That extra time he took was the right thing to do!  It resulted in a #1 album debut for "Home."

The release of Home also led to a performance at The White House, a partnership with Ellen Degeneres to donate $50,000 to a military family, a partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project, a plug from U2 front man himself, Bono, and five--count 'em--five categories to be considered for CMA nominations!

I think I can speak for all DB Congress members that we believe there's hope for you yet, Mr. President!  You deserve all five nominations and all five wins!  Too bad we can't vote on this one, 'congress!

Click here to watch this moving recap video.

Members of the CMA started voting in the second round of CMA nominations today through August 21 and the final ballot voting is October 4-22.

The 46th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisely and Carrie Underwood, will air on ABC on November 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. eastern.