2013 ACM Awards

Sometimes the best things in life take the longest, and in the case of Kevin McGuire, it took one full year of waiting. After missing out on being Taylor Swift's date to last year's ACM Awards, the 19-year-old -- who has survived a difficult battle with leukemia -- suited up and went to the 2013 ACMs with the star.

In a surprise upset, Luke Bryan took home the coveted Entertainer of the Year award at the 2013 Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night (April 7) -- beating out more established stars like Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift.

The big 2013 ACM Awards winners in Las Vegas were Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan. Lambert took home three trophies, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Single and Song of the Year for 'Over You.' The singer couldn't help but become emotional as she accepted her fifth straight Female Vocalist trophy.

With country's two comedians preparing to co-host the 2013 ACM Awards, anything could happen. Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan have said before that they have ideas about what to do during the show, and they've just revealed that there may be an element of...surprise during the show.

Luke Bryan has a big night coming up, as he's co-hosting the ACM Awards for the first time with fellow star Blake Shelton -- but he'll take a break from the clever banter to perform his brand new single, 'Crash My Party,' from his upcoming and highly anticipated fourth studio record.

The list of 2013 ACM Awards performers is as big and spectacular as one would expect for country music's biggest party. Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean lead the five Entertainer of the Year nominees who will perform. Twenty performances have been announced so far, with space remaining for one more big surprise.

Country's funny men Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan are set to co-host the ACM Awards this year, and the duo good-humoredly admit that so far, preparations for the gig haven't been quite as smooth as they might wish -- partly because they're so busy with their separate careers.

A few weeks ago we brought you and amazing video of Kayla Slone, the singing Walmart cashier. Her video has gone viral and has caught the eye of some of the biggest names in country music, including Dierks Bentley.

While country phenomenon Hunter Hayes may only be 21 years old, he's making a huge splash on the country music scene. The three-time Grammy nominated musician has just garnered six Academy of Country Music Award nominations, becoming the second-most nominated artist this year, right behind Eric Church.

The nominees are in, and my man Eric Church is leading with seven nominations for this year's 48th Annual ACM Awards. Cutie pie Hunter Hayes picked up six nominations, while Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift are tied with five apiece.

It's a great day to be from East Texas. The nominees of the 48th Academy of Country Music Awards were announced this morning, and two of our favorite East Texans were nominated for a total of nine awards, including one of the biggest of the night.

East Texans will have a couple extra reasons to tune into the Academy of Country Music Awards (April 7) this year. Not only will the country superstar husband of Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, be hosting -- there are two lovely ladies native to the Piney Woods who are finalists for New Female Vocalist.