Image Courtesy Republic NashvilleWhen Florida Georgia Line's Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard served as mentors on American Idol this past week, the guys shared some of the tips they picked up from the artists who believed in them and took them on the road early on in their career.

Tyler tells Billboard, "Taylor Swift, Jake Owen and Luke Bryan allowed us into their world and we stood beside the stage every night and took notes. We learned a lot from all those artists. It’s important for an artist to soak in everything you can."

That studying paid off: Florida Georgia Line is one of the five nominees for Entertainer of the Year at the 50th Annual ACM Awards, airing live Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Fan voting in that category is now open at VoteACM.com.

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Image Courtesy Valory Music Co.Justin Moore is just 150,000 copies shy of selling 500,000 units of his latest album, Off the Beaten Path, which would mean his album would be certified gold. In an effort to reach that milestone, Justin has launched the Gold Record Challenge for his fans. If the album goes gold, Justin will play a private, acoustic concert at the home of one of his fans. He also is offering personalized gold record plaques, exclusive meet-and-greets and other prizes to fans who enter the Gold Record Challenge.

Go to GoldRecordChallenge.net to sign up for your chance to win.

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Comstock/ThinkstockWho was named the ACM Artist of the Decade for the 2000s? ANSWER: George Strait.

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John Russell/CMAGarth Brooks is partnering with ABC's Good Morning America to surprise one special mom with a special performance this Mother's Day. The idea started when Garth approached his pal, GMA anchor Robin Roberts, about doing something for Mother's Day tied in with his latest single, "Mom," since she premiered the song on the morning show late last year.

Garth tells ABC Radio, "She goes, 'Well, is there any way you think you could go and just surprise a mom on her front porch somewhere?'  I said, 'Are you crazy? That sounds fantastic!'"

Starting now through April 27, Garth is asking you to share stories explaining why the mom in your life deserves this special surprise.  Says Garth, "Some of the stories are going to be extraordinary, of course."

The winner will be selected on or about May 4 and must be able to appear on Good Morning America on or about May 8.

Go to GoodMorningAmerica.com to enter and find more details.

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Nancy Seltzer & Assoc.Garth Brooks will bring his world tour to Birmingham, Alabama June 12 and 13 at the LEgacy Arena at the BJCC.

Tickets for the show, Garth's first Birmingham dates in 19 years, go on sale Friday, April 17 through Ticketmaster.  Tickets for Garth's Tampa, Florida shows June 5 and 6 go on sale today via Ticketmaster.

As always, you can find more information at GarthBrooks.com.  Garth's also making a major push there for fans to give him their vote for ACM Entertainer of the Year.  The 50th annual ACM Awards air Sunday, April 19 on CBS.

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Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockLittle Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman stops by ABC's The View on Wednesday, April 15 to talk about her new cookbook, Oh Gussie!

Reba's new CMT special, Reba and Friends Outnumber Hunger, premieres Saturday, April 18 at 12 p.m. ET. Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line, Eli Young Band and Maddie & Tae also perform on the special. Look for Reba to co-host the CMT Hot 20 Countdown that morning at 9 ET, too.

Thomas Rhett celebrated his latest #1 hit, "Make Me Wanna," at Nashville leather goods store Peter Nappi, where he shot the video for the song last year. Thomas also debuted a stylish new hat at the party.

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Image Courtesy AMA/ABC/Dick ClarkLuke Bryan won the ACM Entertainer of the Year trophy in 2013, so why is he calling his nomination in that category for this year's show "mind-boggling"? It's because he up for that trophy against one of his all-time heroes -- Garth Brooks.

Luke says, "I can honestly say I never thought I’d be in a category with Garth Brooks," Luke says. "I mean, you almost want to frame it. So, it’s pretty cool. I just always feel blessed in these moments, and I just can’t believe I’m in this situation to where these people know who I am, you know?"

Fan voting in the Entertainer of the Year category is now open at VoteACM.com. Luke is set to perform on the 50th Annual ACM Awards Sunday, April 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. He's also co-hosting the show once again with pal Blake Shelton.

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Image Courtesy Sony Music NashvilleTyler Farr knows his latest hit, "A Guy Walks into a Bar," sounds a little out of place among the other songs in the top 10 on the country chart. That's exactly why he chose the drinking and leaving song as the lead single from his upcoming album, Suffer in Peace.

Tyler tells ABC Radio, "I thought it did a good job of representing country music and the foundation and roots it was founded on -- just because of the lyrics and the hook and the storytelling of the song."

While "A Guy Walks into a Bar" gives a nod to Tyler's classic country influence, the song retains that swagger Tyler has become known for on his past hits "Redneck Crazy" and "Whiskey in My Water."

"It has my style and edge to it with a little modern twist," he explains, "but definitely, it's keeping the country perspective."

Tyler's new album, Suffer in Peace, is out April 28.

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Image Courtesy CMTJana Kramer and country newcomer Kelsea Ballerini are hitting the road for the first-ever Next Women of Country tour, launching April 30 in Grand Rapids, MI. Both acts are excited to kick off this trek, which is an extension of CMT's Next Women campaign to promote female acts in the country format.

Jana says, " I’m a big advocate for us girls sticking together and encouraging each other. I can’t wait to see everyone on the road!”

Kelsea started plotting her musical career as a teenager, watching videos on CMT. She says, "Since then it’s always been a dream of mine to have a music video on CMT. To now have that and for me to be part of the CMT Next Women of Country Tour is a huge honor.”

Here are the CMT Next Women of Country Tour Dates:

4/30 -- Grand Rapids, MI, The Intersection
5/1 -- Cincinnati, OH, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill
5/7 -- Cleveland, OH, House of Blues
5/8 -- Chicago, IL, Joe's Sports Bar
5/10 -- St. Louis, MO, The Pageant
5/12 -- Nashville, TN, 3rd and Lindsley
5/14 -- Orlando, FL, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill
5/15 -- Fort Walton Beach, FL, The Swamp
5/17 -- Charlotte, NC, The Fillmore Charlotte
5/28 -- Myrtle Beach, SC, House of Blues

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Image Courtesy UMG NashvilleAlan Jackson will release a brand-new album, Angels and Alcohol, on Friday, July 17. He wrote seven of the 10 tracks on the album.

Angels and Alcohol is Alan's first new project in three years and comes 25 years after he released his debut album, Here in the Real World.

Here's the Angels and Alcohol track listing:

"You Can Always Come Home"
"You Never Know"
"Angels and Alcohol"
"Gone Before You Met Me"
"The One You're Waiting On"
"Jim and Jack and Hank"
"I Leave a Light On"
"Flaws"
"When God Paints"
"Mexico, Tequila and Me"

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