The annual Academy of Country Music awards, airing Sunday from Las Vegas, is one of the industry's most glamorous and glory-filled nights.
There will once again be a star-laden lineup of performances -- from Taylor Swift to James Taylor (who'll sing with the Zac Brown Band) -- as well as appearances from Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Seacrest and other celebrities inside and outside country. Here are some intriguing plot points to ponder.
Entertainer of year
Undoubtedly, because last year's winner, Carrie Underwood, isn't even nominated. It's possible voters were convinced she was a shoo-in so they cast their ballots for others such as Toby Keith, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert. Brad Paisley seems likely to capture the prize as he mounted 2010's highest-attended and most expansive country tour, which included a water park. But Aldean's had the year of his career. His fourth album, "My Kinda Party," had the biggest first-week sales by a male country artist in three years, and it went platinum after just 11 weeks on the market.
Rascal Flatts
What gives? Folks in Rascal Flatts camp have long asserted that the band should be a perennial nominee in top entertainer categories, given the group's multiplatinum success, high television and touring profile and unceasing charity work. This year, the Flatters are not only left out of the entertainer category, they're not even nominated for top vocal group. Yowzer.
Blake Shelton
Shelton has been cranking out country radio hits for the last 10 years, sometimes more consistently than other artists. But five No. 1 songs in the past three years seem to indicate he has figured out how to keep radio's attention. And with that has come a slew of additional career milestones -- he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry last fall, he received his first nomination and win in the Country Music Association's male vocalist of the year category and he's a judge on NBC's "The Voice." Now, he's co-hosting the ACM Awards with Reba McEntire and up for male vocalist of the year. Could a win in the category cement Shelton's status as an A-list artist without him ever headlining an arena tour? Maybe. Does he deserve a bump up the status ladder either way? Absolutely.
Miranda Lambert
For years, Miranda Lambert's comparably edgy brand of country initially made her a hard sell at radio and at awards shows. But last November's CMA Awards, where Lambert won prizes including top female vocalist and best album, served notice that she has now attained industry elite status, and the success of ballad "The House That Built Me" has put her atop the country radio game. She scored a prime performance slot at the Grammy Awards in February and won the best female country vocal performance Grammy as well. She enters ACM week as the top nominee.
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