The Grascals

The Grascals, one of bluegrass’s hottest acts, have been selected to perform Tuesday (Sept. 22) for the annual Academy of Country Music’s Honors Show at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. This is the second year for the show, which is an invitation-only event staged as a musical tribute with special presentations for the off-camera category winners from the 44th annual ACM Awards show, which was held and televised nationally earlier this year.

Bluegrass also scores another hit with one of the honorees — Aubrey Haynie, ACM’s Top Fiddle Player of the Year .

Lee Ann Womack will host the show, and award presenters will be Rodney Atkins and Eddie Montgomery.

Along with The Grascals, performers will be John Anderson, Bobby Bare, Vince Gill, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Jim Lauderdale, Patty Loveless, Brent Mason, Joe Nichols, James Otto, Kellie Pickler, John Rich, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Steve Wariner.

The complete list of honorees follows:

• Jerry Reed (posthumously), Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis & Hank Williams Jr. – recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
• Merle Haggard & Harlan Howard (posthumously) – recipients of the Poet’s Award
• Dolly Parton – recipient of the Jim Reeves International Award
• David Young – recipient of the Mae Boren Axton Award
• “Beer For My Horses” – recipient of the Tex Ritter Award (produced by Showdog Productions, in conjunction with CMT Films – executive producers: Leslie Belzberg, T.K. Kimbrell, and Jeff Yapp; producers: Toby Keith and Donald Zuckerman; director: Michael Salomon)

Winners of the Musician / Bandleader / Instrumentalist categories are:

• Chuck Ainlay – Audio Engineer of the Year
• Tony Brown – Producer of the Year
• Tom Bukovac – Top Guitarist of the Year
• Eric Darken (Tied) – Top Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year
• Jelly Roll Johnson (Tied) – Top Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year
• Dan Dugmore – Top Steel Guitar Player of the Year
• Aubrey Haynie – Top Fiddle Player of the Year
• Greg Morrow – Top Percussionist/Drummer of the Year
• Gordon Mote – Top Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year
• Glenn Worf – Top Bass Player of the Year

Winners of the Industry Awards categories:

• Fran Romeo, Romeo Entertainment Don Romeo – Talent Buyer of the Year
• Louis Messina, The Messina Group – Promoter of the Year
• Joe’s Bar (Chicago, IL) – Nightclub of the Year
• The Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN) – Venue of the Year
• Turning Stone Casino (Verona, NY) – Casino of the Year