Luke Bryan on 2015 ACM Awards Entertainer of the Year Nomination: ‘I Never Thought I’d Be in a Category With Garth’

Luke Bryan is nominated for four ACM Awards at the upcoming 2015 ceremony, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year. But while the nod is already an honor, the fact that he's in the category with Garth Brooks makes it that much more meaningful.

“That’s pretty crazy," Bryan tells Country Countdown USA. "I never thought I’d be in a category with Garth. It’s very mind-boggling, but that’s this business. Now I’m nominated with Garth Brooks.

"You see the paper, and you want to frame it," he adds. "I always feel blessed in these moments."

Bryan won the 2014 CMA Award for Entertainer of the Year, with Brooks presenting Bryan with the trophy.

“Well, first of all, I’ve never met Garth," a tearful Bryan said when accepting the award, before turning to his musical hero, and asking, “Hey, Garth, can I hug you again?”

Turns out, their admiration goes both ways.

“The thing you learn about any artist is if they’re a good person or not," Brooks says. "And I've never heard a bad word in this town with that guy’s name on it. So I already knew that he was a winner in that category, which is all that matters to me truthfully, but sweet kid. He’s enjoying every second of the ride, and good for him.”

The 'I See You' singer says it's validation enough that Brooks knows who he is, let alone that they are both ACM Awards nominees.

"To hear Garth say the things he said about me, I just can’t believe I’m in this situation where these people know who I am," Bryan says. "I never would have thought I’d be here.”

Bryan will return to co-host the 2015 ACM Awards with Blake Shelton, which this year are being held in Texas to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ceremony.

The year 2015 is shaping up to be a big one for the singer-songwriter. In addition to his ACM nods, Bryan will launch his Kick the Dust Up Tour in May. He will also have his own exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which will open the same month. The married father of two, whose final 'Spring Break' album, ' ... Checkin' Out,' will be released next month, also recently took in his teenage nephew, Til, after the unexpected death of his father last year.

The 2015 ACM Awards will air live from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on April 19 at 8 PM ET on CBS.

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