Country Music Superstar Vince Gill Selected as Recipient of The Academy of Country Music(R)/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award

Country Music Superstar Vince Gill Selected as Recipient of The Academy of Country Music(R)/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award

Award to Be Presented During the 41st ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS to Air Live From MGM Grand in Las Vegas Tuesday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS

BURBANK, Calif., April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Academy of Country Music(R) and The Home Depot(R) announced today that country music superstar Vince Gill will be the 2006 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, to be presented during the 41ST ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS broadcast LIVE on CBS Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

In its fifth year, the Humanitarian Award recognizes artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. Gill was selected by a special blue-ribbon committee comprised of executives in the country music industry as well as local and national philanthropic leaders for his ongoing community service and charitable giving of his time and talent.

"The Academy of Country Music is honored to have Vince Gill as the recipient of the Humanitarian Award," said Gayle Holcomb, Academy of Country Music Chairman of the Board. "Vince's talent is huge, and his heart is even bigger. He has made the world a better place and has done it all with joy and laughter."

As the recipient of the Humanitarian Award, Gill will receive a beautiful crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast. He will also be honored with a KaBOOM! playground built by The Home Depot and the Company's volunteers, in the city of his choice. Past recipients of the Humanitarian Award include Reba McEntire, Lonestar, Martina McBride and Neal McCoy.

"Vince truly embodies the spirit of the Humanitarian Award through his charitable giving and community service," said Roger Adams, senior vice president, Marketing, The Home Depot. "This award gives the Academy of Country Music and The Home Depot a chance to recognize country music stars who make time to give back to the community. At The Home Depot, we're dedicated to improving local communities and enhancing the lives of our neighbors in need -- two things that Vince makes time to do on a regular basis."

"I've gotten to write songs, sing and play a guitar for a living, which is a blessing," said Gill. "I've also tried to help other people along the way and have had so much fun doing it. Yet the title 'humanitarian' is a big one. I'm humbled by this honor from the Academy and The Home Depot."

THE HOME DEPOT HOMETOWN HERO TO BE SELECTED

The Academy of Country Music and The Home Depot also announced today a new Hometown Hero honor as part of the Humanitarian Award program. Previously, the recipient of the Humanitarian Award was determined by fan voting. The Humanitarian Award is now selected by a special blue-ribbon committee; however, fans still have the opportunity to vote for their own Hometown Hero -- an individual who is committed to volunteerism and improving his or her local community. Country music fans can log onto www.homedepot.com/acm to nominate an individual for the Hometown Hero award. The Home Depot Hometown Hero grand prize winner will receive a trip to participate in the KaBOOM! playground build with Vince Gill and a trip to the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2007.

THE RECIPIENT

Seventeen-time Grammy award-winning artist Vince Gill has sold more than 22 million albums. Among his many musical honors include his induction into the Grand Ole Opry in 1991 and winning five Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition to his music and performing, Gill is also dedicated to giving back to those in need. Gill dedicates much of his time to programs for children's recreation and education, the terminally ill, the homeless and hungry, cultural and environmental preservation, and the humane treatment of animals. In 1993, Gill established "The Vinny," an annual pro/celebrity golf tournament, to raise money for the Junior Golf program. Gill also sponsors and participates in dozens of organized charities, and nearly all of his concerts have a local charity component as well.

Vincent Gill was born in 1957, in Norman, Okla., the son of a federal judge and a homemaker. By the time he was in high school, he had become proficient on the banjo and guitar and was playing in his first bluegrass band. After graduation, he began pursuing music professionally, working with such acts as the Bluegrass Alliance, Boone Creek, Sundance and, most famously, Pure Prairie League. Gill also toured with Rodney Crowell's high-octane backup band the Cherry Bombs. In 1983, he signed to RCA Records, where he scored his first solo country hits, among them "Oklahoma Borderline" and "Cinderella." His high, pure tenor voice and unerring sense of harmony have made him a favorite duet recording partner for dozens of fellow artists, from Ralph Stanley to Barbra Streisand. He will receive the Humanitarian Award during the 41st ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, to be broadcast LIVE from MGM GRAND in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

THE HOME DEPOT

Founded in 1978, The Home Depot (R) is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States, with fiscal 2005 sales of $81.5 billion. The Company employs approximately 345,000 associates and has 2,055 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. Through its Home Depot Supply division, the Company operates one of the nation's largest diversified wholesale distributors, with operations in 41 states and Canada. The Home Depot has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as the No. 1 Most Admired Specialty Retailer and the No. 13 Most Admired Corporation in America for 2006. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.

KaBOOM!

Celebrating its ten-year anniversary in 2006, KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Over the past decade, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct nearly 1,000 new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including a Web portal and online community, regional and national trainings, grants, and publications for communities that wish to plan a new playspace on their own. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC

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 more than 4,000 professional members and a newly established Associate Membership, is headquartered in Burbank, Calif. 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

The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is produced for television by dick clark productions. The show is executive produced by Allen Shapiro 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.

Source: The Academy of Country Music

CONTACT: Brooke Primero of BNC, +1-310-854-4800, bprimero@bncpr.com, for
The Academy of Country Music

Web site: http:/// www.kaboom.org

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

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