Reba McEntire ACM Awards Hosting Run Ends

Reba McEntire is retiring from her role as host of the Academy of Country Music Awards. The country music superstar, who hosted the awards show solo from 1999 to 2010, before sharing the role with Blake Shelton for the past two years, says it is time for her to move on.

"[I've] passed the torch to Blake," the 57-year-old tells Country Weekly magazine. "I'm a huge Blake Shelton fan."

The husband of Miranda Lambert earned high praise for his emceeing skills from four-time Country Music Awards host, Brad Paisley (who has shared the duty with Carrie Underwood since 2008). "I thought he was awesome, and I think he's probably got a permanent gig," Brad predicted to The Boot last year.

"I was floored and so proud of [both Blake and Reba]," Brad continued. "Together they made a great team, and all of their jokes landed. He's a natural. I was really proud."

Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music said in a statement: "Reba has hosted the ACM Awards a record 14 times since 1986, and we fully understand and support her decision to focus her energies on her new television project. We've known about this for a while and have something very special planned with Blake returning -- he's got something big up his sleeve! -- that we'll be announcing soon. Stay tuned!"

Reba will still have plenty of time on TV screens. She'll star in her new comedy series, "Malibu Country," this fall, alongside Lily Tomlin and Sara Rue. The show debuts on Friday, Nov. 2, at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.

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