One of the most interesting parts of the annual Academy of Country Music Awards ceremonies is the new artist awards, which are fan-determined via popular online vote. The nominees in these categories (Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group) represent some of the most exciting names buzzing around Nashville and, therefore, provide each other with some seriously stiff competition.
Now, last year, I wrote about Top New Solo Vocalist contender Luke Bryan, who went to great lengths via a wildly funny viral video to get fans to vote for him (they did, and he won).
This year, Bryan's labelmate Eric Church is in the running for the same award--he's competing against Randy Houser and Easton Corbin--and he's put together his own similarly humorous viral campaign.
Bryan's video last year included footage of the singer gyrating in a ballet outfit that was so bad it spurred his buddy Blake Shelton to make vomiting noises. Church's video doesn't go quite that far--and to be honest, I just can't see him in tights and leotard anyway--but his call to action is pretty darned funny in his own, bad-boy, Churchlike fashion.
As I said last year, this is not my personal endorsement for Mr. Church--I won't play favorites as I love Mr. Houser and Mr. Corbin, too. But, again, as I said last year--I gotta give props for originality. Plus, who couldn't use a laugh these days, right?
All right, while you're sitting there trying not to giggle (g'wan, you know it's funny)--see how many Church song titles you can catch that are sneakily slipped into the script.
Oh, yeah, and don't blink, or you might miss none other than Luke Bryan himself. No, he's not in tights and leotard this time, sorry.
Fan voting for the ACM new artist categories opened up on January 27, and will close at noon ET on February 24. So there's plenty of time for you to go and cast your own vote. Just visit here, register, and choose your favorites. The winner will be announced during the live ACM Awards broadcast on April 3.
Did Eric's video tickle your funny bone? Be sure to tell me what you thought of it!
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