Luke Bryan is helping fans pick his successor. The Academy of Country Music's reigning Top New Artist is on board to host a special Grand Ole Opry show later this month showcasing the hopefuls for the ACM's Top New Artist prize this year. The concert will feature Top New Solo Vocalist contenders Eric Church, Randy Houser, and Easton Corbin along with Top New Vocal Duo or Group nominees The Band Perry, the JaneDear girls, and Steel Magnolia. Tickets are now on sale for the show, which is set for Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on January 18th. GAC will tape the performances for the upcoming TV special "ACM Showcase," which will debut on January 27th at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
An online ballot will determine the Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group winners, who will become the nominees for Top New Artist at the 46th annual ACM Awards. The first round of voting begins at VoteACM.com and GACtv.com/ACM at noon Eastern Time on January 27th, and closes at noon Eastern on February 24th. The winners will be announced in March, with voting for the ACM's Top New Artist starting March 11th at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Votes for Top New Artist can be cast until the ACM Awards broadcast. The winner will be announced during the show. The 46th annual ACM Awards will be presented in a ceremony in Las Vegas, and air on CBS on April 3rd.
