Awards

With the 2012 American Country Awards right around the corner, lists of presenters and performers are filtering in each day, and get ready, ladies: Jake Owen, Kip Moore and Rascal Flatts will take the stage live from Las Vegas to perform during the annual awards show.

Election season is behind us (thankfully), but it's not too late to vote... For your favorite country stars, that is. The list of 2013 People's Choice Awards nominees are in, and plenty of country stars are on the ballot for country music awards and all-genre categories, too.

For the past several weeks, Taylor Swift has been in the midst of a huge promotional tour for her most recent album. We've seen Ms. Swift grace the cameras for nearly every talk show and late-night show this fall -- and it looks like it has paid off. The 'Red' hitmaker was crowned Best Female Artist at MTV's European Music Awards on Sunday night.

On Sunday at The Silver Spur in Mechanic Falls, I was proud to be on hand to accept the awards presented to our station. The venue was packed with local musicians and country music enthusiasts of all ages. Between each award we were treated to a musical number, either by the winner of the previous award or other very talented musicians. What a great afternoon!

When the letter came in the mail, I had no idea we were nominated! This Sunday at The Silver Spur in Mechanic Falls, The Downeast Country Music Association will present B98.5 their 'Media Award'. It is presented to a radio or television station in Maine that promotes country music.

The five nominees for the 2012 CMA New Artist of the Year award reached their current levels of fame in very different ways. Thompson Square might be the only true "new artist," meaning an act that was previously unheard of before releasing a smash debut album. The others are no less deserving, however. This is an interesting category that will be fun to watch on Nov. 1. Who do you think

Curtain up! Light the lights! It was Lakewood Theater's big night! Sunday was the annual Lakewood banquet where the people who attended the season of shows voted for their favorites! There were tuxedos, gowns, jewelry...when Lakewood steps out, they really step out...

Gifford's scoops the prize and licks the competition! Sorry...couldn't resist. Gifford's Ice Cream has won the top ice cream prize at a national dairy product contest held earlier this month in Madison, Wisconsin.

Hosting the CMA Awards is old hat for Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, as the duo embarks on its fifth co-hosting stint. In the uncut promo for the 46th annual CMAs, Underwood and Paisley admit that in order to stay sharp, they have to practice their hosting skills all year long and they do so in front of tough crowds, like senior citizens at bingo, kids at a birthday party and diners at Danny's

Country's transplant superstar Keith Urban will receive the 2012 Harmony Award at the upcoming 28th annual Symphony Ball in Nashville. The award is bestowed each year to "an individual who exemplifies the harmonious spirit of Nashville's thriving music community."

Ever since Eddie Murphy pulled out of hosting duties for the 2013 Academy Awards telecast, there has been a bunch of speculation regarding who was going to step up and run the show. Today rumors were put to rest when it was announced that 'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane was taking the prized spot.

This year will be the fifth time Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley team up to host the CMA Awards. After so many successful hosting gigs, you can't help but wonder why Underwood and Paisley don't try their hands at hosting some... other things. And that idea is exactly what three hilarious new 2012 CMA Awards commercials explore.

John Michael Montgomery is gearing up to throw his fans one heck of a party in his home state of Kentucky later this month. The singer's annual Country-Fest is set for Sept. 28 and 29, 2012 at Lynkins Park in Winchester, Ky.

The Maine Center for Creativity Thursday night, September 13, held its first ever award pesentation recognizing excellence in art, innovation and enterprise in fueling Maine’s creative economy. The inaugural event was held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland and was more than an awards presentation. An African drum group and Lady Zen, a self-described jazz-funk poet, based in Portland perfor

With a long and mega-successful career, you would think that Lionel Richie would have been nominated for practically every music award there is by now. But in the short time since he crossed over into the country side of things, Richie hasn't been formally honored for his work -- until now, that is. This year, the 'Just for You' hitmaker received his first ever CMA Awards nomination.

As is often the case, the artists left off the CMA Awards ballot are as interesting as the musicians included in this year's nominees announcement.