Big country shows are pretty much the lifeblood of Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek -- as in just about the only thing keeping the city-owned amphitheater still going at this point. So here's a big chunk of the venue's 2013 schedule, its Country Megaticket of big arena-country acts coming to Walnut Creek this year. Pre-sales start on Tuesday and prices range from $199 to $799.

Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert, Love and Theft (May 4)
Kenny Chesney, Eli Young Band, Kacey Musgraves (May 23)
Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Lee Brice (June 8)
Luke Bryan, Thompson Square, Florida Georgia Line (July 13)
Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch (July 26)
Blake Shelton, Easton Corbin, Jana Kramer (Aug. 9)
Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley (Aug. 24)
Jason Aldean, Jake Owen, Thomas Rhett (Sept. 13)
Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry (Sept. 27)

Meanwhile, Durham Performing Arts Center has also unveiled a choice country-leaning booking: Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell with Richard Thompson Electric Trio, playing DPAC on March 30. If you don't get in on any of the pre-sales, tickets go on sale Jan. 25.

Miss Universe Pageant (8pm, NBC) - The 61st annual beauty pageant is hosted by Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

A Home for the Holidays with Rascal Flatts (8pm, CBS) - Rascal Flatts hosts the 14th annual event to raise awareness of adoption. Featured musical performances by Rascal Flatts, Rachel Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Matchbox Twenty and "American Idol" winner Phillip Phillips (left) -- who you know is going to sing that cool "Home" song.

The X-Factor (8pm, Fox) - In part one of the two-part season finale, the remaining acts perform for one last time.

WWE Tribute to the Troops (9pm, USA) - The 10th annual holiday celebration for the troops takes place in Norfolk with Kid Rock, Flo-Rida and the Muppets joining pro-wrestling superstars.

The Year with Katie Couric (9:30pm, ABC) - In a special edition of "20/20," Katie Couric recalls the biggest stories of 2012, including the presidential election, Hurricane Sandy, and mass shootings in Aurora, Co., and Newtown, Ct.. The special will feature interviews with newsmakers and celebrities.

Chicago Fire (10pm, NBC) - Several of the  firefighters are accused of stealing an expensive diamond necklace after responding to a kitchen blaze in an upscale townhouse. Meanwhile, Cruz tries to save his brother from involvement in an escalating gang war.

Happily Divorced (10:30pm, TV Land) - Fran fills in for Peter as Joan Collins' assistant, but manages to get her ex and temporary boss in hot water with a director.

Well, I know what I want for Christmas: A guitar made out of license plates, assembled by Cary artist Peter Geiger. He's been making these sculptures for about five years now, and gaining quite a reputation -- which will only grow with his latest score, first place in "Design Rascal Flatts' Tour Guitar" contest. He'll meet the band and collect his prize bounty on Friday, when the group plays in Raleigh. For more on that, and how he makes these very cool artifacts, see the story in Sunday's paper.

We don't have dates yet, but we do have acts for the big 2012 arena-country shows at Raleigh's Time Warner Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek. And let's just say that, aside from the first two acts listed, this year's schedule is mighty heavy on The Usual Suspects (and is actually most notable for who isn't on it, at least not yet):

(UPDATE -- dates have been added...)

Sugarland (April 28)
Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Thompson Square (June 8)
Toby Keith (July 15)
Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan (July 27)
Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, Eli Young Band, Edens Edge (Aug. 10)
Brad Paisley, The Band Perry (Aug. 24)

These six shows go on sale Feb. 3 as part of the venue's annual "country megaticket" package at prices from $129 to $649.

Scotty McCreery will be a presenter at next week's 2011 CMT Music Awards, an awards show produced by the Country Music Television cable channel.

We predict a possible teen heartthrob overload, as Justin Bieber (who has a recorded a song with country band Rascal Flatts) will also present.

Sadly, Scotty and the Biebs are not at this time scheduled to perform.

Other presenters include "American Idol" runner-up Lauren Alaina, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow, and Kristen Chenoweth. Kid Rock will serve as host.

The 2011 CMT Music Awards airs live on Wednesday, June 8, at 8 pm on CMT. You can also watch on CMT.com.

Photo source: Walt Disney World

ACC Tournament (1pm, WRAL) - Games today at 1pm (UNC vs. Clemson) and 3pm (Duke vs. Virginia Tech).

Best Player (8pm, Nickelodeon) - This original Nick movie featuring the stars of 'iCarly' is about a video game expert (Jerry Trainor) who tries to stop a rival (Jennette McCurdy) from entering a tournament by befriending her and dating her mother.

Must Love Cats (8pm, Animal Planet) - Host John Fulton travels to the Southwest where he meets cats with a frontier flair. And since everything grows bigger in Texas, it's no surprise he finds some oversized kitties there. Also, a trip to Kitty City in New Mexico before heading back to California. Next week's show is the final one for the season (series?).

Rascal Flatts: Nothing Like This (9pm, ABC) - The country music group Rascal Flatts perform at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Natasha Beddingfield and Justin Bieber make guest appearances.

Battle of Los Angeles (9pm, Syfy) - A new Syfy movie in which alien spacecraft attack Los Angeles in the first wave of an invasion on earth, and humanity's survival depends upon two soldiers who must breach the mother ship and destroy it from within. Stars Nia Peeples and Kel Mitchell.

Bobby's Ireland (9pm, Food) - Bobby Flay embarks on a food tour of Ireland and explores Dublin's changing culinary scene with Chef Clodagh McKenna.

Ron White's Comedy Salute to the Troops (9pm, CMT) - Lewis Black, Vic Henley, Kathleen Madigan, Rascal Flatts, Margo Rey and Tim Wilson perform in a comedic and musical salute to the troops from Nashville.

Saturday Night Live (11:29pm, NBC) - Zach Galifianakis (right) returns as host, and the musical guest is Jessie J.