ONLINE VOTERS AND ACADEMY MEMBERS HAVE CHOSEN SAM HUNT, THOMAS RHETT AND COLE SWINDELL AS THE FINAL NOMINEES FOR ACM NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL'S

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE "50TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS," SUNDAY, APRIL 19 ON CBS

Online Fan Voting To Select The Winner Will Open April 8 on VoteACM.com

Sam Hunt, Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell have been named nominees for this year's ACM New Artist of the Year Award Presented by Kohl's. The winner will be announced on the 50TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, co-hosted by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, April 19 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The special is produced for television by dick clark productions.

Hunt, Rhett and Swindell were determined as the final three nominees for the ACM New Artist Of The Year Award via a first round of fan voting on CMT.com, combined with the ACM professional membership vote. The final round of fan voting for New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl's begins Wednesday, April 8 (3:00 PM, ET/12:00 PM, PT) with voting partner CBS.com at VoteACM.com. It will close Sunday, April 19 (8:00 PM, ET/5:00 PM, PT) when the live telecast begins. In selecting the winner, professional member votes will be combined with fan votes to obtain the winner of the category.

The 50TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A. Clark and Barry Adelman are executive producers. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

Official CBS ACM URL: http://www.cbs.com/shows/academy_of_country_music/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AcademyOfCountryMusic

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ACMawards