Plot Synopsis

Each year since 2008, GAC has profiled nominees for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) New Artist of the Year award. In this first year, GAC aired three episodes, all hosted by Bill Cody, with each program featuring nominees from a different category: Top New Male (Luke Bryan, Jack Ingram, Jake Owen); Top New Female (Sarah Buxton, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift); and Entertainer of the Year (Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Keith Urban). The following year, GAC aired a one-hour special, hosted by Jack Ingram, that highlighted the nine acts who received ACM nominations for Top New Male Vocalist (Jamey Johnson, James Otto, Jake Owen), Top New Female Vocalist (Sarah Buxton, Julianne Hough, Ashton Shepherd), and Top New Vocal Group or Duo (Eli Young Band, The Lost Trailers, The Zac Brown Band). In 2010, hosts Jake Owen and Suzanne Alexander took a look at these nominees for the ACM Top New Artist categories: Top New Solo Vocalist (Chris Young, Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson); Top New Vocal Duo (Bomshel, Joey + Rory, Steel Magnolia); and Top New Vocal Group (Eli Young Band, Gloriana, The Lost Trailers). The 2011 special was taped at the Ryman Auditorium during a special edition of the Grand Ole Opry, and featured interviews and performances by these nominees: Top New Solo Vocalist (Eric Church, Easton Corbin, Randy Houser) and Top New Vocal Duo or Group (The Band Perry, The JaneDear girls, Steel Magnolia). In 2012, ACM SHOWCASE highlighted eight semi-finalists for ACM New Artist of the Year: Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, JT Hodges, David Nail, Jerrod Niemann, Justin Moore, Scotty McCreery, Thompson Square. For the 2013 program, GAC again separated artists by into three categories, featuring these nominees: New Female Vocalist (Jana Kramer, Kacey Musgraves, Sunny Sweeney); New Male Vocalist (Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes); and New Vocal Duo or Group (Florida Georgia Line, Love and Theft, Thompson Square).
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The 2014 ACM SHOWCASE premiered on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 8pm ET/PT on GAC, featuring profiles of and music from these eight semifinalists: Lee Brice, Brett Eldredge, Tyler Farr, Justin Moore, Kip Moore, Kacey Musgraves, Parmalee, and Thomas Rhett.