<br />
ACM<br />
EMPO<br />
SPRING 2016<br />
NEON<br />
KNIGHTS<br />
ACM Awards<br />
Co-Hosts Luke Bryan &<br />
Dierks Bentley rule Vegas<br />
LUCKY 7<br />
Chris Stapleton Leads<br />
ACM Nominations<br />
PLUS: The Full 2016 Ballot<br />
CARRIE, DIERKS<br />
& KENNY<br />
Lifting Lives at ACM Party<br />
for a Cause® Festival<br />
TUNE-IN! ACM AWARDS<br />
LIVE! 8 / 7 c<br />
<br />
COVER STORY<br />
20<br />
RAT PACK<br />
REVISITED<br />
Dapper hosts LUKE BRYAN<br />
and DIERKS BENTLEY<br />
channel old Las Vegas in<br />
new CBS promos, get ready<br />
for their gig at Country<br />
Music’s Party of the Year® <br />
IN THIS ISSUE<br />
ON THE COVER: Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley photographed in Las Vegas<br />
at Fremont Studios East on Jan. 14, 2016. Photo by Cliff Lipson/CBS.<br />
4 || EDITOR’S NOTE<br />
5 || LETTER FROM THE CEO<br />
8 || HAPPENINGS<br />
36 || IN MEMORY<br />
38 || ACM MOMENT<br />
26<br />
32 18 <br />
FEA<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 1" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=1"> ACM EMPO SPRING 2016 NEON KNIGHTS ACM Awards C</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 2" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=2"> </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 3" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=3"> COVER STORY 20 RAT PACK REVISITED </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 4" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=4"> EDITOR’S NOTE VEGAS, BABY, VEGAS O </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 5" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=5"> FROM THE CEO DEAR ACADEMY MEMBERS </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 6" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=6"> </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 7" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=7"> </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 8" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=8"> HAPPENINGS 1 || AND THE NOMINEES ARE… || Newl</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 9" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=9"> 4 4 || IN WITH THE NEW (FACES) || Kelsea Balleri</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 10" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=10"> NEWS Academy Announces Staff Promotions </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 11" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=11"> Ferrini handcrafted boots available at </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 12" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=12"> NEWS By the Dozen </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 13" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=13"> 7 8 10 11 8 || KATIE BALDWIN ADMINISTRATI</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 14" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=14"> THE MAVERICKS MARTINA MCBRIDE</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 15" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=15"> READY FOR A disruptive 2016 BIGMACHINELAB</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 16" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=16"> in the M O Dierks Bentley </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 17" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=17"> “I came out here because I’m a co-host of th</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 18" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=18"> Nominees ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Jason Aldean Gar</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 19" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=19"> VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Off Camera Award) Awarde</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 20" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=20"> 20 acmcountry.com</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 21" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=21"> Neon KNIGHTS Channeling a litt</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 22" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=22"> ABOVE: Custom metal ACM letters crafte</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 23" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=23"> WHERE OLD VEGAS GOES TO SHINE If the setting for </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 24" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=24"> artists react </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 25" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=25"> “ last year for the first time</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 26" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=26"> For the fourth year, ACM PARTY FOR A CAUSE® FESTI</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 27" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=27"> BY LISA LEE have cause, will party Countr</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 28" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=28"> CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Sam Hunt, Kelsea </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 29" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=29"> “It’s the night right before I’m hosting, I</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 30" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=30"> FRIDAY, APRIL 1ST Gates Open ||| 3:00 PM CABELA’</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 31" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=31"> THE WEEK </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 32" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=32"> #youshouldbehere 32 acmcountry.com</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 33" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=33"> Reigning ACM NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR COLE SWINDE</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 34" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=34"> ABOVE: Cole Swindell accepts </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 35" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=35"> Use Code ACMA and Receive 15% Of</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 36" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=36"> IN MEMORY GLENN FREY GLENN FREY, A FOUNDING ME</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 37" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=37"> SONNY JAMES SONNY JAMES, COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FA</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 38" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=38"> IN MEMORY JOYCE PAUL JOYCE PAUL, FORMER COUNTR</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 39" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=39"> PETE HUTTLINGER PETE HUTTLINGER, A CELEBRATED NAS</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 40" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=40"> IN MEMORY CRAIG STRICKLAND CRAIG STRICKLAND, 2</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 41" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=41"> I P M MPROVING LIVES THROUGH THE OWER USIC O</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 42" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=42"> SONNY JAMES 18TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNT</a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 43" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=43"> </a>
<a title="tempo_sp2016_ALL page 44" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/36f9b16d?page=44"> PROVEN PERFORMER. With so many people </a>