The group played its breakthrough hit "If I Die Young" in full for the first time in front of a television audience, and were happy to return this year. The show will be broadcast live Monday night from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Fox.
They're on a nominee list packed with rising stars. Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band, country music's newest arena-filling acts, lead all nominees with eight each. Thompson Square has seven, followed by The Band Perry and Taylor Swift with six.