The 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards 2010 was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday April 18th, 2010 at 8pm. Reba McIntire has been chosen to host this year’s broadcast for her 12th season in a row. The awards show was aired on CBS. Performers for this awards ceremony included Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, and Carrie Underwood. http://www.acmcountry.com

The Country and Western Music Academy was formed in 1964 and the first country music awards show was held in 1966 to recognize the top performers of that year. The awards program was the first to highlight country music and sent the genre into the public limelight. In 1972, ABC first aired the show and in 1979 when Dick Clark Productions became involved, the show moved to NBC. Eventually CBS became host and remains the televising network today. In 2003 the awards showed moved from Nashville to Las Vegas, first being shown from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Events Center and now hosted at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. http://www.acmcountry.com/academy/history.php

In 2004, the Academy added on line voting for some of the awards allowing fans to participate in selecting the winners. This year, fans can vote for Top New Artist and Entertainer of the Year beginning on Thursday, April 1 by accessing the website at VoteACM.com.

The Academy doesn’t just use awards time for celebration and recognition. It combines the time where Country artists are gathering into a week of events which support numerous activities. Events during music awards week include ACM Celebrity Golf Classic, ACM Charity Motorcycle Ride and Jam and an All-Star Jam. In 2010 on the day following the awards ceremony, many performers will join in a celebration of the career of Country Duo Brooks and Dunn in The Last Rodeo Proceeds of this performance honoring the due will benefit the ACM’s Lifting Lives.http://www.acmcountry.com/academy/history.php