Taylor Swift to take N.J. teen as date for awards gala

Musician Taylor Swift accepts the award Best Country Song e at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards Feb. 12, 2012, in Los Angeles.

/ Kevin Winter

SOMERDALE, N.J. (CBS/AP) We know who country singer Taylor Swift is taking to the Academy of Country Music awards in April.

Her date will be long-time fan Kevin McGuire of Somerdale, N.J.

Pictures: Taylor Swift
Pictures: 2011 ACM Awards

McGuire is 18 and has been battling leukemia since he was 13 . His sister had started a campaign on Facebook to get Swift to go with him to his prom.

Swift writes in a Facebook post of her own that she can't make it to the prom, but that she'd like for McGuire to accompany her to the awards ceremony April 1 in Las Vegas. She is nominated for three awards.

A spokesman for Swift confirms that she wrote the post. A post on the Facebook page for McGuire thanks her for the invitation.

The page also thanks the many fans who signed on to the campaign "Thank you so so so so so much!," the family wrote. "The McGuire family could never show how grateful we are to all of you! "