The 2012 Grammy nominations concert special will come with a twist: For the first time ever, the event — scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 5 — will be held in Nashville instead of Los Angeles.

“We are excited for the opportunity to bring ‘The Grammy Nominations Concert Special Live!!’ to Nashville this year as we recognize our nominees for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards,” said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow in a press release explaining the change. “Nashville’s rich musical and cultural history is so important and vital to our industry, and indeed to the world — a fact the Academy has recognized for decades by locating one of our most thriving and active Chapters there. We look forward to celebrating the year in music in such a passionate, vibrant, and flourishing city.”

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean was understandably enthused about the announcement, saying that it “further validates that Nashville is a destination on the rise, and our rich musical heritage has once again put us on the national stage. This is tremendous news for Nashville, and we look forward to working with The Recording Academy to ensure the show’s success.”

The special is scheduled to air live on CBS at 10PM on Dec. 5., with further announcements regarding presenters, performers and ticket sales expected shortly.

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