Taylor Swift Closes Out the 2008 ACM New Artist Show

The ACM New Artist Show was held at the MGM Grand on Saturday night (May 17), and Taylor Swift was one of the eight artists that performed. The other artists included Carolina Rain, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Jack Ingram, Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, and Sarah Buxton, who brought along special guest, Keith Urban.

The show raises money for the ACM Charitable Fund, and throughout the night fans were able to bid on exclusive packages to meet stars like Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift and others backstage at the ACM Awards show. All the packages included two tickets to fly anywhere the artist was performing, meeting them backstage, and getting an autographed guitar from them. Plus, they received upgraded floor seats at the ACM Awards show, and got to meet their artist backstage at the awards show as well.

Another package provided by Coors, was tickets to the Daytona 500 VIP All-access pass, plus 2 Super Bowl VIP tickets, and then also 2 tickets to a big college football game, I believe it was Tennessee and Auburn. Several of these packages brought in $15,000-$40,000, but the biggest amount was for a package to see Taylor Swift. This went for $60,000. While the total amount for the night wasn't announced, the total will be posted on the ACM's official website soon.

I'll be posting my full recap along with a photo gallery, plus the recap of the awards show, and a photo gallery of the styles on the ACM Orange Carpet later this week.

_{Photo © Shelly Fabian}