Iconic country group, Alabama are set to receive a special award, the Greatest Hits Award, at the 2011 American Country Awards. The band is also scheduled to join the line-up of performers for the television special. Many fans complained about the lack of “real country” at the 2011 CMAs. Perhaps, the ACAs are trying to answer this complaint by refocusing on more traditional country music. Just a thought.

The 2011 ACAs will feature Kristen Chenoweth and Trace Adkins as hosts, and will air live on Monday, December 5th at 8pm ET on Fox. The list of performers so far includes both hosts as well as Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Eli Young Band, The Band Perry, Scotty McCreery, Miranda Lambert and Lauren Alaina.

Alabama is spearheading efforts for the event “Bama Rising: A Benefit Concert for Alabama Tornado Recovery” intended to aid victims of the tornadoes which raged through the area on April 27th. Sponsored by Verizon, the concert will take place June 14th at Birmingham’s BJCC Arena. This concert is set to be an all-star event with several of country’s brightest slated to perform including Brad Paisley and Martina McBride (a complete list of performers is included below).

“My hope is that this will bring happiness and help to my fellow citizens in Alabama. I believe it’s extremely important that we do this benefit, and I want everyone in the state to feel like they are part of it. I hope we all can pull together to help get through the worst natural disaster I’ve ever seen in Alabama. I appreciate my friends in country music, everyone that’s been involved, and anyone that’s helped in any way.”- Randy Owens on behalf of Alabama

A Bama Rising Fund has been established in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. All decision regarding the proceeds from the concert and any other contributions made to the Fund will be made by an advisory committee including representatives of the artists, promoters and the Community Foundation.

Tickets will be available Friday, May 20th at 11:00am CST and range in price from $25- $150.

The complete list of performers is as follows:
Alabama
Rodney Atkins
Dierks Bentley
Bo Bice
Luke Bryan
Sheryl Crow
Sara Evans
Taylor Hicks
Little Big Town
Martina McBride
Montgomery Gentry
David Nail
Jake Owen
Brad Paisley
Kellie Pickler
Darius Rucker
Ashton Shepherd

For more information and details click here.

Alabama front man Randy Owen has finally finished releasing his labor of love, an autobiography of the challenges and blessings that kept him moving forward through the rocky road of country music fame titled “Born Country“. Tack onto that the release of his debut solo album “One On One” and you’ve got yourself a whole lot of Randy Owen love! Through the powers that be, WC here has managed to get a spare copy of both Randy Owen’s new album AND personal Memoir to give away to one of my many avid readers.  To enter to win this prize pack, simply sign up as part of the DH Country Music Community and tell your friends! I’ll be givin’ away a whole slew of prizes from new albums, to books, free downloads, apparel, and a whole lot more to our members! DH Country Music is completely free to both fans and artists, and offers the best in country music community features without all the commercialism, spam, and showboating of other social networking sites. Stop by today and take a look around. I’m sure you’ll like what you find!

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