ACM Nominations
Country hit-makers Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood revealed the Academy of Country Music Awards nominees during a press conference March 4 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The announcement was carried live on the CBS Early Show. Kenny Chesney leads the pack as the top nominee for the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards with an impressive 11 nominations in 7 categories. Chesney's nominations include another bid for entertainer of the year, which if he's successful would be his fourth consecutive win of this coveted award. For the first time in ACM history, fans will choose the Entertainer of the Year in voting that begins May 5. For a full list of nominees, log onto AmericanMusicChannel.com.

Carrie To Become Newest Opry Member
ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry during her Opry performance on March 15. Underwood will be formally inducted into the Opry family on Saturday, May 10. The American Idol winner received the invitation from Opry member Randy Travis during the Saturday night show after she sang Travis' "I Told You So," a song she recorded and released on her Carnival Ride album. As Underwood accepted a standing ovation from the crowd, Travis himself surprised her on stage. Hugging a shocked and emotional Underwood, Travis said, "That's a better performance than I will ever do of that song. Thank you. I'm honored."

Trace Loses To Piers for The Celebrity Apprentice
Thursday night, March 27, Donald Trump announced the new Celebrity Apprentice. After 12 weeks and competition from 13 other contestants, Trace Adkins was ultimately defeated by British tabloid editor and TV show judge Piers Morgan, who Mr. Trump described as "ruthless." Adkins said, "I wanted to win the thing, sure. But I achieved what I set out to. I raised a lot of awareness for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. … So it's wonderful." During the live finale telecast, Adkins performed his latest single, "You're Gonna Miss This." A special live version of the song is now available for download at iTunes, with proceeds benefiting Adkins' charity of choice, FANN (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network). His 6-year-old daughter is one of the 12 million Americans who are afflicted with severe food allergies.

Clint Tries Comedy For New Reality TV Series
Clint Black is the latest country artist to star in a reality TV show, joining the cast of Secret Talents of the Stars, which will premiere April 8 on CBS. The series is a biweekly celebrity talent show that will uncover some of the most fascinating and unique secret talents of your favorite film and television stars, whether it be singing, dancing, magic or even acrobatics. Clint will be trying out stand-up comedy.

Kenny's Big Star Contest
Kenny Chesney might pack stadiums these days, but there was a time on his way up when he had trouble even getting bar patrons to pay attention when he sang at tiny clubs. So Chesney has announced the Big Star contest, named for one of his hits, allowing local artists a chance to open some of his shows during his 2008 Poets & Pirates tour. In addition to getting an opening slot in their hometown, the winning artists get a chance at a grand prize that includes hitting the road for Kenny's final three shows this fall, a $25,000 jackpot and an audition for executives with Sony BMG, the company that owns Kenny's label, BNA Records. Stadium shows will have a battle of bands the night prior to the concert, while arena and auditorium shows will have contests a few weeks before Chesney's concert.

Carrie and Miley On American Idol
Carrie Underwood and Miley Cyrus will appear on American Idol on April 9 as part of the Fox series' charity event. The lineup also features Bono, Mariah Carey, Chris Daughtry and Fergie, John Legend, Annie Lennox, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Brad Pitt, Snoop Dogg and Reese Witherspoon. Last year's inaugural charity episode raised $76 million for underprivileged children.

Williams Family Legacy Exhibit
A new exhibit honoring Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr. opened at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on March 28. Authorized by the Williams family, Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy includes Hank Williams' fiddle, Hank William Jr.'s toddler-size Nudie suits, Hank and Audrey Williams' wedding invitation and the notes saved from Williams' funeral. Family Tradition will run through December 31, 2009, and replaces the recent Ray Charles exhibit.

John Holds Talent Competition
Beginning March 31, John Rich (of Big & Rich) plans to hold a talent competition in Nashville the last Monday of every month at a small venue called 12th & Porter. The format allows 10 unsigned acts to perform for celebrity judges, with the winner taking home a $300 grand prize donated by John himself.

Sara Announces Engagement
It has been confirmed that Sara Evans is engaged to marry Jay Barker, a former quarterback at the University of Alabama. Barker currently hosts a morning radio show in Birmingham, Alabama. Evans filed for divorce from former political candidate Craig Schelske in 2006 while she was a contestant on the TV series, Dancing With the Stars. A bitter and widely-publicized divorce was finalized in September 2007. Evans and Barker plan to get married sometime this summer.

New Daddies
Darryl Worley and his wife Kimberly welcomed a daughter March 24 with the birth of Savannah Gail Worley, who weighed 6 lbs., 6 oz., and was 19-3/4 inches long. And Luke Bryan and his wife Caroline welcomed their first child, a son, on March 18 in Nashville. Thomas Boyer "Bo" Bryan weighed in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces.

New Releases
Alan Jackson's Good Time was released on March 4. Jackson wrote all 17 songs on the album, including his current hit, "Small Town Southern Man." The CD also includes a duet with Martina McBride, "Never Loved Before." Other albums released March 4 include Kathleen Edwards' Asking for Flowers (Rounder), Ashton Shepherd's Sounds So Good (MCA), and Carlene Carter's Stronger (Yep Roc). This is Carter's first album of new material since 1995. Van Morrison released a new album, Keep It Simple, on March 11 on Lost Highway Records. Ricky Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder released a tribute album to Bill Monroe on March 25 entitled Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947. April releases will include new CDs by George Strait, Martina McBride, Josh Gracin, Lady Antebellum, Jeff Bates, Phil Stacey, James Otto and Kathy Mattea.