 Hit List -
Vince Gill will be honored as a BMI Icon at the 2014 BMI Country Awards Nov. 4 in Nashville. Past honorees include Kris Kristofferson , Willie Nelson , Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn . -
The CMA Songwriters Series will take writers Jamey Johnson , Raul Malo , Bob DiPiero and Rob Hatch to Austin, TX Oct. 15 to share the stories behind their songs. Tickets are on sale Sept. 12. More info here . Birthdays Friday (9/12): Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland), the late George Jones, the late Helen Carter. Saturday (9/13): Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts), Bobbie Cryner, Aaron Benward (Blue County), the late Bill Monroe. Sunday (9/14): John Berry, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Danielle Peck, Blake Wise, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, the late Mae Boren Axton, the late Don Walser. Monday (9/15): Andy Gibson, Alexander Arzamastsev (Bering Strait), the late Roy Acuff. On TV Friday (9/12): Connie Britton, Live With Kelly & Michael (syndicated); Maddie & Tae, Late Show With David Letterman (CBS); Hunter Hayes, Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC repeat). Upcoming Album Releases Sept. 16 Tim McGraw Sundown Heaven Town George Strait The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium Sept. 23 Kenny Chesney The Big Revival Lee Ann Womack The Way I'm Livin' Big & Rich Gravity Sept. 30 Lady Antebellum 747 Blake Shelton Bringing Back The Sunshine Marty Stuart Saturday Night & Sunday Morning Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White Hearts Like Ours Oct. 7 Jason Aldean Old Boots, New Dirt Old Dominion Self-Titled Various Artists The Best Of Me Soundtrack Oct. 14 Florida Georgia Line Anything Goes Oct. 21 Little Big Town Pain Killer Oct. 28 Stoney Larue Aviator Gretchen Wilson STILL Here For The Party nbsp; Nov. 4 Ronnie Milsap , The RCA Albums Collection The Doobie Brothers Southbound | 
Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow was a surprise presenter, three leading ladies offered a show-stopping performance and Carrie Underwood 's voice actually cracked at Tuesday's 8th Annual ACM Honors in Nashville. Tebow showed up to bestow the Jim Reeves International Award on friends Rascal Flatts . Kacey Musgraves , Hillary Scott and Kelly Clarkson shared the stage in tribute to Songwriter of the Year Shane McAnally . Underwood's vocals faltered, but she wasn't singing. She was just choked up as she received the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award and expressed appreciation for her team, the ACM and the broader country music family. In one of the best ad-libbed moments of the night, host (and father of one) Jake Owen hinted Underwood's emotional reaction might be due to pregnancy hormones and commiserated a bit with her husband Mike Fisher (watching from the front row). Performers for the evening included Dierks Bentley, Hunter Hayes, Jack Ingram, Dwight Yoakam , The Oak Ridge Boys and The Swon Brothers . See a full list of honorees and performers 
They're pros at entertaining thousands of fans in concert – but how are Florida Georgia Line at hosting? "We've hosted a couple of pool parties at my house before," jokes FGL's Tyler Hubbard . The duo will will host FOX-TV 's American Country Countdown Awards , set to air Dec. 15 live from Nashville. FGL's Brian Kelley says he's excited and ready for the challenge. He reveals how they plan to "Cruise" through the show without a hitch: "We're going to get with the writers and make it our own," he says, "to let our personalities shine through and make some jokes of our own." 
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When Keith Urban recently ended the summer leg of his Raise 'Em Up Tour , Urban, opening acts Brett Eldredge and Jerrod Niemann plus all 65 crew members said goodbye the most awesome way they knew how – by lip-synching to the Journey '80s power ballad "Faithfully," naturally. Watch Urban's thank you to his fans 
If you were hoping to get a ticket to one of Alan Jackson 's Artist-in-Residence concerts at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum , better find a friend with an extra one! The Oct. 8 and 22 shows both sold out in less than an hour when they went on sale Monday (9/8), setting a record for the fastest sellout for any event held in the CMA Theater. Jackson's residency coincides with the new exhibition Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin' It Country , running through March 2015. "You know, I used to think if you could have a hit or two and your career lasts three or four years, you're very lucky," says Jackson. "I never thought I'd have a career that lasts 25 years and is still goin' – I didn't imagine all this could happen. I hope my fans are enjoying the exhibit and I hope they'll enjoy these two special shows we're goin' to do for 'em." 
Thomas Rhett was invited into the C.F. Martin & Co. 's Martin Ambassador Program . Rhett recently toured the Nazareth, PA factory and will soon receive a custom guitar. "As a kid I always looked up to my dad," said Rhett, "who usually had a guitar in his hand. So when I started playing, I knew I'd need a quality guitar. It's such an honor for Martin to be so supportive of my career and ask me to be one of their ambassadors." The custom guitar won't be Rhett's first Martin. He already plays a D-28, HD-16R Adirondack and Custom Shop Koa HD-16R. Other Martin ambassadors include Dierks Bentley and Hunter Hayes . 
