With so many early awards going out this year we wonder what awards will still be up for grabs come April 5th, but The Academy of Country Music Awards announced a few more early winners today.

Brad Paisley’s Waitin’ on a Woman earned video of the year. Paisley shares the award with producer Mark Kalbfeld, producer/director Jim Shea and director Peter Tilden.  Paisley also shares a vocal event category win with Keith Urban for their duet, Start a Band, which appears on Paisley’s album, “Play”. Paisley is up for four other ACM Awards, while Urban is nominated in two additional categories.

The remainder of the ACM Awards will be presented Sunday (April 5) in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand.

Much discussion has surrounded the new Rascal Flats single, “Love Who You Love,” whose lyrics do not mention specific genders. Does this mean that the song may refer to same-sex love? Rascal Flats don’t mind if people think so. Guitarist Joe Don Rooney states, “That’s what’s cool about our music. You can interpret (it like) that. If you get that — it’s perfect. If you are someone who’s gay or someone who’s straight, you still feel something from the song, and that’s what we want.”

“Love Who You Love” can be heard on the album, Unstoppable.

Dan Seals, achiever of 11 No. 1 country hits between 1985 and 1990, died last night (March 25) following treatments from lymphoma. He was 61. 

Some of Seals’ country hits included Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold), You Still Move Me, Three Time Loser, One Friend, Big Wheels in the Moonlight and Love on Arrival.

The Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation will present Keith with the Johnny “Mike” Spann Memorial Semper Fidelis Award at its 14th annual New York City gala on March 26. The award is named for the first soldier to die in USA’s ‘war on terror’, and recognizes Keith as “always faithful” (Semper Fidelis) in his loyalty to and support of America’s troops.

“Spending time with our soldiers around the world is something I’ve always regarded as a privilege and honor,” Keith said. “I’m certainly happy to accept this award, but I won’t forget for a second who’s really doing the heavy lifting to keep this country safe. And that’s why I’ll keep going back and spending time with those good folks every chance I get.”

Keith completed his seventh USO Tour in 2008, visiting multiple sites including Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.

George Strait will be the 5th person ever to win the Academy of Country Music Artist of the Decade honor.

Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton, & Lee Ann Womack have been added to the already star-studded lineup for the George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert in Las Vegas, April 6.  Previously announced were acts from Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. The concert is being taped April 6, the night after The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, and will air as a CBS-TV special at a later date.

Tracy Lawrence, his road manager Chuck Pursel, two band members, and their bus driver Raymond Hall escaped injury Sunday (March 22) in a tour bus accident in North Platte, Nebraska.

The bus was traveling to Nashville from a tour stop in Jackpot, Nevada, when the left front tire blew out on Interstate 80. Bus driver Raymond Hall lost control of the bus which traveled down an embankment, over the median, tipped onto two wheels, and bounced into oncoming traffic. Raymond was able to regain control of the bus and bring it to a complete stop with only minor damage.

Lawrence had to say, “By divine intervention, we were at the right place at the right time for a serious incident like this to happen and have everyone walk away unscathed.”

Lawrence is slated to shoot the video for his latest single Up To Him from his forthcoming inspirational country CD, “The Rock,” today.

The Academy of Country Music announced early winners of special awards, industry awards and musician, band and instrumental awards today.

Dolly Parton will win the Jim Reeves International Award, Merle Haggard & the late Herlan Howard will receive the Academy of Country Music Poets Award, the 2008 film Beer for My Horses starring Toby Keith will win the Tex Ritter Award, & the ACM’s current senior director of operations David Young will win the Mae Boren Axton Award.

Musicians include Tom Bukovac (guitarist), Gordon Mote (piano/keyboards), Glenn Worf (bass), Greg Morrow (percussionist/drummer), Dan Dugmore (steel guitar), Aubrey Haynie (fiddle) and Eric Darken and Jelly Roll Johnson (specialty instrument). Chuck Ainlay was named audio engineer of the year, and Tony Brown won producer of the year.

The industry awards went to Joe Bar’s in Chicago (nightclub), Turning Stone Casino in Verona, N.Y. (casino) and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville (venue). Fran Romeo of Romeo Entertainment won the Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year award, and Louis Messina of the Messina Group was named promoter of the year. 

Early winners will be formally honored at a ceremony in Nashville on Sept. 22. The winners in remaining categories will be revealed on April 5 during the ACM Awards in Las Vegas.

Alan Jackson’s new single, Sissy’s Song, tells the tale of a family friend who passed before her time. The song has taken on its own meaning to countless fans who have lost people close to them. Give the song a listen on Jackson’s MySpace. It’s a sad song, but offers hope to those who need it.

The winners of the first season of CMT’s Can You Duet (the country version of American Idol from the same producers,) Caitlin & Will, have been missing in action since last June when they won, until Even Now, their new single was finally released this week (see above).
 

Lance Smith, who you might recognize from CMT’s Top 20 Countdown has been revealed as the new host of the second season, and he began his duties last week at the show’s first casting call at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, TN, where nearly 5,000 aspiring singers auditioned to appear on the show.