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The Academy of Country Music has announced the honorees for its special awards and off-camera winners of 2021. The 14th annual ACM Honors will pay tribute to such country artists as Toby Keith, Loretta Lynn, and Luke Combs at an August ceremony in Nashville.

Keith will receive the Merle Haggard Spirit Award, presented to a “singer-songwriter who is continuing the legacy” of Haggard by “following his/her own path, crafting great songs and epitomizing Merle’s spirit through genuine performances and great storytelling.” Past recipients include Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley.

Tears flow for Reba McEntire and Kelsea Ballerini. Maren Morris delivers a moving – and gender-bending – reading of a Glen Campbell classic. And Chris Janson runs on super octane performing one of rock’s quirkiest songs.

The Acm Honors awards show holds no suspense: The winners have already been announced. But the show, which airs Friday on CBS, is packed with emotional power and musical highs. The 11th annual show, which was taped Aug. 23 in Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, pays tribute to specific achievements in country music, and a stellar lineup has shown up for the celebration.

The salute to McEntire...

When Blake Shelton told the folks at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to take a seat, he really meant it: The Voice coach's famous chair will soon be making a guest appearance at the Nashville museum as part of a new exhibit honoring the star, People has exclusively learned.

The exhibit opens Friday and runs through Nov. 6 – but don't worry, Blake fans. Shelton will still have a place to sit on the highly rated NBC show. It turns out the revolving chairs were made in multiples, so the exhibit will feature just one of Shelton's very limited edition chairs.

When Blake Shelton told the folks at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to take a seat, he really meant it: The Voice coach's famous chair will soon be making a guest appearance at the Nashville museum as part of a new exhibit honoring the star, People has exclusively learned. The exhibit opens Friday and runs through Nov. 6 - but don't worry, Blake fans. Shelton will still have a place to sit on the highly rated NBC show. It turns out the revolving chairs were made in multiples, so the exhibit will feature just one of Shelton's very limited edition chairs.

On this date in...

1977: Elvis Presley died. Presley was influenced greatly by Mae Axton, who was a former soap opera writer (for two weeks anyway) that wrote his first million-selling hit, "Heartbreak Hotel." Elvis' ex-wife, Priscilla, would go on to star for several years on Dallas. Former soap star Susan Walters would play Priscilla in one of the television movies about the singer.

1979: On The Edge Of Night, Miles (Joel Crothers) tried to soothe a dying Louise.

2007: On Guiding Light, Josh and Cassie were almost married when Olivia ran over Reva before they could finish the ceremony. Watch the entire episode here.

Celebrating a birthday today are:

Lesley Ann Warren (ex-Sophie, Desperate Housewives) - 65

Kathie Lee Gifford (ex-Nurse Callahan, Days Of Our Lives) - 58

Angela Bassett (ex-Leonie, Ryan's Hope) - 53

Cam Gigandet (ex-Daniel, The Young And The Restless; ex-Randy, Jack & Bobby; ex-Kevin, The O.C.) - 29

Agnes Bruckner (ex-Bridget,...

Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire and Garth Brooks have learned they're already winners of Academy of Country Music honors five days before the organization's big awards show in Las Vegas. The trio join Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers as those who will be honored with special awards from the Academy.

McEntire will receive a Career Achievement Award, while Swift is the recipient of the 2011 Jim Reeves International Award for her contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world. Brooks and the Gatlins will receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award.

Additionally, Tom T. Hall and the late Hank Cochran are this year's recipients of the Poet's Award in recognition of their achievements as songwriters, and artist manager John Dorris has been tapped for the Mae Boren Axton Award in recognition of his years of service to the Acm.

Even Gwyneth Paltrow's Country Strong movie has landed an accolade -...