Idol Chatter & Voice Views

American Idol grads Carrie Underwood, Lauren Alaina and Kelly Clarkson will all perform tonight at the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Carrie will be making her first public appearance since a nasty fall at her home left her with a broken wrist and in need of 40-50 stitches to her face. She tweeted out a closeup from a ACM rehearsal to fans earlier today.

Lauren, meanwhile, is already an ACM winner. She’ll take home the dubiously dubbed New Female Artist award, despite releasing her debut album more than six years ago (“Wildflower” in October 2011).

The other nominees for that honor included former The Voice standouts Danielle Bradbery (debut album Nov. 2013) and RaeLynn (who scored a hit single with “God Made Girls” in 2014), leaving one to believe the ACM folks have short memories and need a new name for the honor. Re-emerging Female Artists perhaps?

As for performances, Kelly will sing “Does He Love You” with mother-in-law Reba McEntire, Carrie will perform her just-released single “Cry Pretty” and Lauren will take the stage twice, to sing her single “Doin’ Fine” and to duet with Kane Brown on “What Ifs.”

Oh, and Blake Shelton is also scheduled to perform, singing “I Should’ve Been a Cowboy” with Toby Keith.

As for awards — well, singing show stars are up for several, including:

Entertainer of the Year: Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton

Female Vocalist of the Year: Carrie Underwood, Kelsea Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris

Male Vocalist of the Year: Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young

Single of the Year: Blake Shelton, “I’ll Name the Dogs;” Little Big Town, “Better Man;” Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road;” Chris Stapleton, “Broken Halos;” Midland, “Drinkin’ Problem.”

Song of the Year: Keith Urban, “Female” (co-written by former Voice contestant Nicolle Galyon); Sam Hunt, “Body Like a Back Road;” Miranda Lambert, “Tin Man;” Chris Stapleton, “Whiskey and You.”

Vocal Event of the Year: Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood, “Fighter;” Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina, “What If;” Thomas Rhett and Maren Morris, “Craving You;” Maren Morris and Vince Gill, “Dear Hate;” Glen Campbell and Willie Nelson, “Funny (How Time Slips Away).”

The ACM awards are being televised by CBS beginning at 8 p.m. tonight.