Two Musical Forces Align for CMA Awards Performance: Dolly Parton and Sir Elton John Perform Together for the First Time on 'The 39th Annual CMA Awards'

Two Musical Forces Align for CMA Awards Performance: Dolly Parton and Sir Elton John Perform Together for the First Time on 'The 39th Annual CMA Awards'

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of music's most respected, performer/songwriters Dolly Parton and Sir Elton John are joining forces for a musical first on "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" when they perform together during "Country Music's Biggest Night."

"I've always admired Sir Elton's songwriting, musicianship and singing and I'm thrilled to be working with him," Parton said. "It should be a very passionate performance."

"The audience and our viewers are in for a magical experience when two of the most flamboyant and best-loved entertainers in the world take the stage," said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson.

"The 39th Annual CMA Awards" airs live Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the CBS Television Network from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Dolly Parton has adroitly navigated Country and pop record charts as well as successful forays into television and film ("9 to 5," "Steel Magnolias"). She has authored more than 3,000 songs including the hits "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene," "Tennessee Mountain Home" and "I Will Always Love You." She has been nominated for 35 CMA Awards and won Entertainer of the Year (1978), Female Vocalist of the Year (1975), and Musical Event of the Year twice, once with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt (1988) and then with Vince Gill (1996).

Parton's latest musical project, Those Were the Days (Sugar Hill Records, Oct. 8), is a heartfelt effort on which this single-minded artist locates renewed relevance in a dozen era-defining songs from the 1960s and '70s, including the John Lennon penned anthem "Imagine," which she is performing on the CMA Awards, backed by Elton John's band with him at the piano. "I was inspired to record 'Imagine,'" she said. "It is a song of hope and inspiration and perfect for the times."

Elton John's monumental career has spanned more than three decades making him one of the top-selling solo artists of all time with more than 200 million records sold worldwide. He has won a wide array of industry awards including GRAMMYs, Tonys and an Oscar as he continues to add innovative work to his personal catalog of 35 Gold and 25 Platinum albums (certified by the Recording Industry Association of America RIAA). He continues to perform his critically acclaimed "Red Piano" show exclusively at Caesars Palace.

John has continued his new millennium critical renaissance with the Gold certified, Top-20 charting album Peachtree Road, which will be re-released as a special CD+DVD package on November 15. The new package features three previously un-released bonus tracks from the hit British musical "Billy Elliot" as well as the new single and video for "Turn The Lights Out When You Leave," the video of which stars Teri Hatcher of "Desperate Housewives."

Parton will join John in a performance of "Turn the Lights Out When You Leave" on the CMA Awards.

Performers already announced for the 2005 CMA Awards include Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, CMA hosts Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss + Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Julie Roberts, George Strait, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, and Willie Nelson and Paul Simon, who will perform and then present CMA Song of the Year.

Presenters previously announced include Trace Adkins, James Gandolfini, Vince Gill, Billy Joel, Kris Kristofferson, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix.

For the first time ever, tickets for the 2005 CMA Awards are available to the general public. Tickets can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (212) 307-7171 (or any local Ticketmaster outlet phone number); or in-person at the Madison Square Garden box office. Tickets to the 2005 CMA Awards can also be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets across the nation. The ticket price is $250 (not including tax and service charges).

The CMA Awards are produced by Walter C. Miller and directed by Paul Miller. David Wild will script the ceremonies. MJI Programming, a division of Premiere Radio Networks, is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards, which includes Red Carpet coverage and a stereo-radio simulcast of the gala event. Chevy, an American Revolution, is the official automotive sponsor of the 2005 CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2005 CMA Awards. Additional promotional sponsors include Prilosec OTC(R), aolmusic.com, BMG Columbia House, Inc., Chase, Country Weekly, Creme Savers(R) Candy, Crisco(R), Gibson Guitars, Jack Daniel's, Kellogg's(R), Kmart(sm), Kodak, Lever 2000(R) and XM Satellite Radio(R). Charles Fazzino is the official artist of the 2005 CMA Awards.

Source: Country Music Association

CONTACT: Press, Wendy Pearl of CMA, +1-615-244-2840; or Kim Fowler of
Sugar Hill Records, +1-615-297-6890, for Dolly Parton; or Marty Maidenberg of
Sanctuary Records, +1-212-430-1213, for Elton John; or Fran Curtis of Rogers &
Cowan, +1-212-445-8423, for Elton John; or Beth Stoller-Feldman of CBS-NY,
+1-212-975-3183; or Susan Marks of CBS-LA, +1-323-575-2118

Web site: http://www.cmaworld.com/
http://www.cmaawards.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For CMA Awards information, history and high-resolution images visit www.CMApress.com. This is a protected site for media only and is not intended for public use. The public should be directed to www.CMAawards.com.

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