Academy of Country Music Awards show details and star power revealed

By Erin Ryan

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012 | 5:32 p.m.

Golden boy Blake Shelton and grand dame Reba McEntire return to host the 47th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 1.

That’s not the only cat the ACM let out of the bag today. While its awards show (also known as “Country Music’s Party of the Year”) airs live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET, its second annual Fan Jam will be held simultaneously at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

“This live remote location gives country music lovers the ultimate fan pass,” states an ACM press release. The event will be hosted by Zac Brown Band, with other “top-tier music acts” to be announced at a later date. Attendees are ensured prizes and special giveaways ranging from autographed guitars to trip packages and country music events/merchandise, plus live entertainment after the awards telecast ends.

Additionally, the ACM and awards show producer Dick Clark Productions will tape an all-star concert special, Lionel Richie and Friends—A Lifetime of Hits, at the Grand Garden Arena on April 2 (to air at a later date on CBS). The country collaboration will feature duets from Richie’s upcoming album Tuskegee along with solo takes on some of his greatest hits performed by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and more. Tickets sales from the concert will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, which works to improve lives through music.

Tickets for all events go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. (PT) January 25, through Ticketmaster. Members of the ACM A-List (sign-ups are free on the ACM site) can purchase tickets in a special pre-sale from January 20-24.