The Academy of Country Music announced its second round of performers for the 55th ACM Awards: Eric Church, Mickey Guyton, Morgan Wallen, Dan + Shay, Kane Brown, Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan. Previously announced performers include Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Riley Green, Tenille Townes, and Thomas Rhett featuring Jon Pardi. The ACM Awards will air live from Nashville on Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. The show will take place at three iconic Nashville institutions: the Grand Ole Opry House, The Bluebird Cafe and Ryman Auditorium. Keith Urban will host the show for the first time. They did individual announcements for each artists like the ones below on @acmawards Instagram.

This is so interesting, and I don’t know if we’ve ever seen this before. Kelsea Ballerini announced yesterday she’s releasing a new album of reimagined songs on the 11th. The album is called Ballerini, and it’s the counterpart to her album from earlier this year, Kelsea.

The album will contain the same songs in the same order but the difference will be in the tunes’ presentations. Each will portray a completely different approach from the singer who calls the new album “the other side of the same story.”

The singer explains the two album’s distinct identities like this: “Kelsea is glitter: bold and effervescent and dreams that are boundless. She’s who I want to be. While Ballerini is emotional, vulnerable, soft: observes her surroundings and chooses her words carefully. She’s who I am.”

Luke Combs shared some news yesterday on Facebook that may catch fans by surprise. He said, “Just wanted to let y’all know 2 of the 5 songs coming out Oct. 23 on the deluxe are ones y’all have NOT heard, yet…”

Ohhh snap. So, we have a lot to look forward to! Luke also was nominated for 6 CMA Awards and shared his excitement for his first ever Entertainer of the Year nomination.

Luke said, “Getting 6 CMA nominations is pretty insane. 2 in the same category is just unbelievable, especially in a category that means so much to me, Song of the Year. And obviously, being in the conversation for Entertainer of the Year for the first time is such a huge deal, and having a seat at the table with Carrie [Underwood] and Miranda [Lambert] and Keith [Urban] and Eric [Church], people who I view as so far above me in this industry. And, I’m just really thankful and very humbled.”

Cox Media Group