ACM Showcase show tickets go on sale

Tuesday, January 4, 2011 – Tickets for a taping of GAC's ACM Showcase, an evening recognizing the newcomer nominees for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, go on sale today.

Luke Bryan will host the event as a special Grand Ole Opry performance on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. central at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The event will feature Top New Solo Vocalist nominees Eric Church, Randy Houser and Easton Corbin and Top New Vocal Duo or Group nominees The Band Perry, the JaneDear girls and Steel Magnolia.

Tickets are available at opry.com or by calling 1-800-SEE-OPRY.

This special will air at 10 p.m. eastern on Thursday, Jan. 27 on GAC and will kick off fan voting for these categories at VoteACM.com and GACtv.com/ACM. Voting will close on Thursday, Feb. 24 at noon eastern tine. The winner in each category will be announced in March and will move on to compete for Top New Artist, with the winner being announced LIVE during the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast April 3 on the CBS.

"Each and every Opry performance is a journey which features the past, present, and future of country music," said Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. "Every year, fans visit the Opry to tune in and see, not only country's superstars and legends, but also its new stars. We're excited to kick this new year off with the Academy of Country Music and GAC for a special Opry performance showcasing six of country's most talented new acts in one great night of music."

The complete list of nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards will be announced in February.