Final Performers and Presenters Set for the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Country's Night to Shine(TM)

Final Performers and Presenters Set for the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Country's Night to Shine(TM)

Telecast to Air Live From Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas Tuesday, May 17th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS Television Network

Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack Set to Perform

Deana Carter, Cowboy Troy, Marty Roe and Dana Williams of Diamond Rio, Josh Gracin, Alison Krauss, Blaine Larsen, Tracy Lawrence, Keech Rainwater and Dean Sams of Lonestar, Barbara Mandrell, Sterling Marlin, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw, Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Jamie O'Neal, Julie Roberts, Michelle Stafford, Sugarland, Trick Pony, Josh Turner, Van Zant and Phil Vassar Set to Present

BURBANK, Calif., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Academy of Country Music is announcing that country music superstars Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack will perform at the 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Additionally, the Academy is announcing all remaining presenters for this year's telecast. The ceremony, which honors country music's top talent as well as the industry's hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17th, 2005 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

Brooks & Dunn are nominees for Entertainer of the Year and Top Vocal Duo this year. The pair won for Top Vocal Duo at last year's awards; it was their fourth straight victory in the category. Faith Hill will perform her new single "Mississippi Girl," from her eagerly anticipated new album, "Fireflies." The performance marks not only her first single release in nearly two years, but her first appearance on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS in five years.

This year Brad Paisley is nominated for five ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, including nods for Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year and Video of the Year -- all for the song "Whiskey Lullaby," featuring Alison Krauss. He is also nominated for the fan-voted Academy of Country Music / Home Depot Humanitarian Award. Keith Urban, who will appear on the telecast LIVE from London, has four nominations. He is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist, Single Record of the Year (for "Days Go By") and Album of the Year (for "Be Here").

Gretchen Wilson has five ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS nominations this year. She's nominated for Top Female Vocalist and Top New Artist, as well as for Album of the Year (for "Here For the Party"). Her smash single "Redneck Woman" is nominated for Single Record of the Year and Video of the Year. Lee Ann Womack has three nominations this year: Top Female Vocalist, and Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year nods for "I May Hate Myself in the Morning." She recently starred in her own special on CMT, which was named after her current album, "There's More Where That Came From."

The following will present awards at the 40th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS: Deana Carter, Cowboy Troy, Marty Roe and Dana Williams of Diamond Rio, Josh Gracin, Alison Krauss, Blaine Larsen, Tracy Lawrence, Keech Rainwater and Dean Sams of Lonestar, Barbara Mandrell, Sterling Marlin, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Dr. Phil & Robin McGraw, Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Jamie O'Neal, Julie Roberts, Michelle Stafford, Sugarland, Trick Pony, Josh Turner, Van Zant and Phil Vassar.

The artists and presenters listed above join previously announced 40TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS performers Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Big & Rich, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire and Montgomery Gentry, and previously announced presenters Garth Brooks, Terri Clark, Emily Procter, Rob Schneider & Neal McCoy and The Warren Brothers.

The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 with a mission to support, promote, and enhance the advancement of the country music industry worldwide. The Academy, which is comprised of 3,800+ professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, CA. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and the Academy of Country Music, please visit www.acmcountry.com.

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced for television by dick clark productions. The show is executive produced by Dick Clark and R.A. Clark, and produced by Barry Adelman. The executive in charge of production is Bob Bardo, and the executive in charge is Fran LaMaina.

Southwest Airlines is the official airline of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will be broadcast LIVE from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 17th, 2005 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS Television Network.

Source: Academy of Country Music Awards

CONTACT: Brooke Primero or Melissa Armstrong, both of BNC,
+1-310-854-4800, for Academy of Country Music Awards

Web site: http://www.acmcountry.com/

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