Taylor Swift Among Artists to Be Honored with 50th Anniversary Milestone Award on CBS

Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Reba, George Strait, Taylor Swift and Brooks & Dunn will be honored with the Academy of Country Music's prestigious 50th Anniversary Milestone Award, commemorating their groundbreaking career achievements in ACM Awards history. The seven honorees will each receive an exclusive trophy created by renowned jewelry and timepiece designer David Yurman during the 50TH ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Co-hosted by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, Country Music's Party of the Year® will be broadcast live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, April 19 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The special is produced for television by dick clark productions.

The Academy of Country Music 50th Anniversary Milestone Award recognizes artists who have advanced the popularity and acceptance of country music by accomplishing milestones unique to the Academy of Country Music, voted on by the ACM Board of Directors.

"The history of the ACM Awards and country music would not be the same without the incredible achievements by these seven superstars," said Bob Romeo, CEO for the Academy of Country Music. "We are so thankful to David Yurman for partnering with us and creating such a perfectly crafted trophy that memorializes these amazing milestones."

The 50th Anniversary Milestone Award trophy, designed by David Yurman, was crafted in America by master silversmiths and sculpted out of more than 1,010 grams of sterling silver on a zinc base. Each aspect of the special award reflects an element of the brand. The curved silver flutes echo the Cable motif, the hat is edged with 4.16 carats of black diamonds and the band gleams in 18k gold, introducing the designer's love of mixing metals. Topping off the statue is black onyx carved in the shape of David's signature Albion® gemstone, with the numeral 50 inlaid in 18k gold. Each winner's name will be engraved in the sterling silver plate and the back of the base features the designer's logo.

"These artists have reached an incredible milestone in their careers - this acknowledgement is extraordinary," said Designer and CEO, David Yurman. "And the fact that the Academy of Country Music asked me, a sculptor turned jeweler, to collaborate on this award was truly an honor."

GARTH BROOKS - Most Awarded ACM Entertainer of the Year

Brooks has won 21 ACM Awards, including six ACM Entertainer of the Year trophies, making him the most awarded Entertainer of the Year in the Academy's history. He is nominated again this year in that category. He has also been recognized as ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade for the 1990s and received a 40th Anniversary Milestone Award.

KENNY CHESNEY - First Fan-Voted ACM Entertainer of the Year

Chesney has received 11 ACM Awards, including four ACM Entertainer of the Year trophies. In 2008, he became the first artist in Academy history to be named Entertainer of the Year by the fans, who were allowed for the first time that year to cast their votes online for their favorite artist. He also received the Triple Crown Award in 2005, which is the Academy's recognition for artists who have previously won ACM Awards in all three of the following categories: New Artist, Male/Female Vocalist and/or Vocal Duo/Vocal Group and Entertainer of the Year.

MIRANDA LAMBERT - Most Awarded Solo Female Artist

Lambert is the Academy's most awarded solo female artist, with a total of 18 awards. Currently, she holds the record for the most consecutive Female Vocalist wins, with five awards. Additionally, Lambert is the most winning Song of the Year solo female artist, with three awards, honored as the artist for "The House That Built Me," and as the artist and composer for "Over You." This year, Lambert leads with eight nominations, including her fourth nomination for Entertainer of the Year and ninth consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year.

REBA - Most Awarded ACM Female Vocalist of the Year

Reba has earned 13 ACM Awards and is the Academy's most awarded Female Vocalist of the Year of the past 50 years with seven awards. In addition, Reba has hosted the ACM Awards a record 14 times spanning over four decades, the most for any host in the Academy's history. Also, she was honored in 2011 with a Career Achievement Award for advancing the popularity and acceptance of country music through their endeavors in the entertainment industry.

GEORGE STRAIT - ACM Winner Over Four Decades

Strait, the king of country music, has a remarkable career earning a total of 21 ACM Awards, spanning the course of four consecutive decades. Having won his first ACM Entertainer accolade for 1989, Strait's 2013 win in the category gave him the largest span, 24 years, between Entertainer wins in Academy history. He also received the 40th Anniversary Milestone Award in 2005, five Male Vocalist of the Year Awards and was honored as the ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade for the 2000s, being only one of five acts to have received such an honor.

TAYLOR SWIFT - Youngest ACM Entertainer of the Year

Swift has won eight ACM Awards, including a Jim Reeves International Award in 2011 for her outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world. She earned the Crystal Milestone Award for being the best-selling artist in all genres of music in 2008 and has also won two ACM Entertainer of the Year awards. At the age of 21, Swift became the youngest Entertainer of the Year in the Academy's history.

BROOKS & DUNN - Most Awarded Artist

Brooks & Dunn, the best-selling duo in country music history, have won the most ACM Awards in the past 50 years with a total of 27 awards, including three Entertainer of the Year trophies and a Triple Crown Award. They also hold the record as the top winning Vocal Duo with 16 awards and hold the most consecutive Vocal Duo wins with eight.

The 50TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark and Barry Adelman and Marc Bracco are executive producers. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

David Yurman was founded in New York in 1980, and quickly became known as America's leading fine jewelry and luxury timepiece designer for men, women and children. The signature gold and silver designs, diamond, pearl and gemstone jewelry, and Swiss-crafted timepieces are renowned for capturing the essence of relaxed American luxury. David Yurman collections are available at 32 retail locations throughout the United States, Canada, France and China, and at authorized fine jewelry and timepiece retailers worldwide.

Official CBS ACM URL: http://www.cbs.com/shows/academy_of_country_music/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AcademyOfCountryMusic

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ACMawards

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